SPEECH BY MDM RAHAYU MAHZAM, MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFORMATION, AND MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AT THE KHOO TECK PUAT HOSPITAL & YISHUN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL SAFETY AND SECURITY WEEK 2026, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026

CEO Prof Chua Hong Choon
COO Dr Wong Kirk Chuan
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

1.             It is my pleasure to join you at the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Yishun Community Hospital Safety and Security Week 2026. It is a timely opportunity for us to pause, celebrate, and reaffirm a simple but important principle: safety and security are fundamental to every hospital’s mission as a place of care and healing.

2.             When we speak about safety and security in healthcare, we must take a broad and inclusive view. It matters to everyone who enters our hospitals: patients, next-of-kin, members of the public, healthcare workers and staff. It encompasses different domains, such as physical, psychological, and online safety and security. These domains may be distinct, but they are closely connected in the day-to-day experience of care. Physical safeguards, psychological wellbeing, secure systems, clear processes and respectful interactions all contribute to an environment in which we can feel safe.

3.             Everyone has a part to play in enabling safety and security. Patients, caregivers, and visitors can help by speaking up when they witness abuse and harassment, and by treating healthcare workers with respect and understanding, even in moments of anxiety or frustration. Staff can look out for one another, report incidents to supervisors and management, and encourage colleagues to seek support when needed. Importantly, leaders and healthcare institutions must put in place clear systems for reporting and follow-up support, facilitate effective training for staff, and cultivate a culture where staff feel safe to speak up. Clear systems are most effective when people know how to use them. A supportive culture becomes stronger when concerns are heard and followed up. Together, these efforts can help strengthen our hospitals as safe and secure places of healing, for patients and healthcare workers alike.