Duke-NUS, Lien Foundation in palliative research
The Business Times
19 March 2008
Page 9
DUKE-NUS Medical School has collaborated with the Lien Foundation to establish Asia's first research centre for palliative care.
The Lien Centre for Palliative Care will draw on the research capabilities of Duke-NUS through Duke University's end-of-life and palliative care research programmes, with involvement and support from the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and Singapore Health Services
The centre will also undertake healthcare professional education and development, building on existing programmes organised by NCCS and the Asia-Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network.
The aim is to broaden Singapore's base of expertise in palliative care and research, raise awareness of cultural differences in attitudes and beliefs towards dying and bridge these more effectively with the existing system to formulate better-informed healthcare policies and medical practices.
The Lien Foundation initiated the setting up of the centre with a $7.5 million commitment over five years, which will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the government.
The centre will be headed by Duke-NUS associate professor Cynthia Goh, a veteran palliative care pioneer and medical specialist, founder president of the Hospice Care Association and a former medical director of Assisi Home and Hospice.
'The Lien Centre for Palliative Care is a dream come true for the palliative care community in Singapore,' Prof Goh said. 'For the first time, real resources have been set aside for research and education.'
An estimated 70 per cent of terminally ill patients in Singapore die without receiving hospice palliative care.
