The Singapore Medical Association welcomes you to this dinner marking the 40th Anniversary of the founding of the Association in 1959.

We are honoured to have Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Dr Michael Lim, Members of Parliament here with us tonight.

We would like also to acknowledge the presence of Senior Members of the Ministry of Health, especially, the First Permanent Secretary, Mr Koh Yong Guan, the Second Permanent Secretary, Mr Moses Lee and the Director of Medical Services, Dr Chen Ai Ju.

We are also pleased that the Presidents and leaders of medical statutory bodies, the University and the sister health care organisations are able to join us tonight.

We welcome the Presidents and representatives of the professional bodies representing lawyers, accountants, engineers, surveyors and architects at tonight’s dinner.

For this 40th Anniversary dinner we are honoured to have the Presidents and representatives of the national medical bodies from nine countries. I shall introduce each of them and I would like them to stand up to be recognised as their countries are announced in alphabetical order.

Dr James Appleyard
Treasurer, British Medical Association

Dr On Sui Chee
Ministry of Health, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam

Prof Sau Sokkhonn
President, Cambodian Medical Association

Dr Han Xioming
Deputy Secretary General, China Medical Association

Dr Merdias Almatsier
President, Indonesia Medical Association

Dr Lee Yan San
President, Malaysian Medical Association

Prof Myo Myint
President, Myanmar Medical Association

Dr Paichit Pawabut
President Elect, The Medical Association of Thailand,

Dr Kachit Choopanya
Chairman, MASEAN Council,
Adviser, The Medical Association of Thailand

Prof Hoang Bao Chau & Dr Tran Huu Thang
Secretary General and Deputy Secretary of the Vietnam General Association of Medicine & Pharmacy

This morning we had a very fruitful meeting to exchange news of developments in healthcare in our respective countries. The Singapore Medical Association would like to thank them for their well wishes and gifts to the Association on this occasion.

For everyone here, the 40th Anniversary Committee headed by Dr Yue Wai Mun and the Dinner Organising Committee headed by Dr Ang Peng Tiam, have together, worked hard to line up an interesting programme for you tonight.