Current Status: MOH approves the Charity status application on the 17 April 2013 (Application Case ID: 0000028202)
Next Step: Work towards achieving the Institute of Public Character status
Previously: SMA Charity Fund Limited is incorporated as a Company limited by guarantee (UEN: 201305017E)
1st Board of the SMA Charity Fund Limited (UEN: 201305017E)
Special Advisor to the Board: Dr Charles Toh Chai Soon
Chairperson: Prof Wong Tien Yin
Board of Directors:
Mr Lim Fung Wan, Colin
Mr Sitoh Yih Pin
A/Prof Tan Sze Wee
Prof Thio Li-Ann
Mr T K Udairam
Dr Wong Chiang Yin
Effective 18 March 2013
A. Background
The Singapore Medical Association (“SMA”) had in 2007 set up a SMA Medical Students’ Assistance Fund in partnership with the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine to support the living expenses of the needy students pursing a medical education.
Since the inception of this Fund till end 2011, we have received donations amounting to more than S$1 million from approximately 400 distinct individuals and organisations. We believe that this Fund has impacted on lives of our needy medical students and will enrich the healthcare landscape in Singapore.
The changing medical education and healthcare landscape, the success of this fund, as well as our knowledge of its limitation in terms of reach and impact, had caused us to embark on a strategic review of the objectives and vision of our social concerns direction.
B. Intent
The SMA and the Singapore Medical Association Pte Ltd (“SMAPL”) intends to jointly set up and guarantee an “SMA Charity”, a company limited by guarantee.
The SMA Charity seeks to emcompass the current charitable activities of the SMA and SMAPL and to broaden the scope and utilise the strengths of the SMA and SMAPL to meet a range of current needs including but not limited to:
1) Investing in the provision of medical knowledge
As the Singapore population matures, it is important that the public possesses basic healthcare knowledge, is aware of the importance of taking responsibility in personal healthcare. It is therefore important for the SMA Charity to provide public education to be delivered to the masses frequently and clearly, debunking myths and clarifying doubts.
2) Investing in the provision of non biased public education
There are currently a significant number of talks and public seminars organised by commercial/product companies and the topics/contents are tailored towards promoting products or the company itself. There is a lack of independent medical and health education tailored to the public as its primary focus, presented by well trained medical professionals. It is therefore important for the SMA Charity to organise, as well as collaborate with other independent, not for profit organisations to provide non biased public education content.
3) Investing in public health screening and medical care
Affordable and available health screening will allow for our ageing population to detect diseases early, and therefore higher success of recovery and management. Preventive screening and vaccination programmes, home visits, and grassroots partnership programmes, funded by SMA Charity, can be brought to the heartlands to result in better health outcomes.
4) Investing in medical education
A medical education is expensive, costing about four times more than most other tertiary education in Singapore. The SMA position is that no one should be deprived of a medical education due to financial reasons, and we believe that the best suited candidates should have our assistance to pursue this if necessary.
5) Investing in medical and public health research
Research should be encouraged and supported at the undergraduate/medical student level, as this can result in more holistic scholarly training during medical school. This will ultimately lead to doctors who can develop better health policies and deliver evidence-based healthcare and better health outcomes for the patient and population in general.
C. Overview of the SMA Charity
Vision: Towards better healthcare for Singapore
Through the following Missions and Objects (“FEVER”):
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Financial
Relieving the distress, poverty and suffering among members of the public, including members of the medical profession in Singapore, and also to provide scholarship, financial assistance and awards for students pursuing studies in medical education.
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Education
Educating the public in areas of healthcare that lead to better health outcomes.
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Volunteerism
Promoting volunteerism amongst the medical profession.
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Exposure
Supporting students pursuing studies in medical education to attend conferences, seminars, workshops, or the like leading to enhanced medical knowledge and better health outcomes for the public.
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Research
Supporting medical research and public health projects.
D. Financial Projections
We project that we will need approximately $170k for the first full year of operations with an increase of about 7% for the 2nd year and 10% more for the 3rd year.
We expect the operations for the 1st year to be funded mainly by SMA internal funds set aside for charitable purposes as well as internal fund raising events and activities. We expect for SMA current funding sources and donors to continue to fund 85% and 80% of total funds required for the 2nd and 3rd years respectively. The remaining amount can be achieved through new partnerships and donors.