OPENING ADDRESS BY MDM RAHAYU MAHZAM MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND MINISTRY OF DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFORMATION AT THE VANGUARD QUALITY FORUM 25 SEPTEMBER 2026

Ms Chan Wei Ling, Chief Executive Officer, Vanguard Healthcare
Distinguished Speakers and Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

1. Good morning. I am delighted to join you today at the Vanguard Quality Forum 2026.

2. Let me begin by thanking all of you for the important work that you do in community care. Every day, across different care settings, you support seniors and their families through different stages of their ageing journey.

3. You provide care, reassurance and dignity to those who depend on you. For many seniors and their families, what leaves a lasting impression is not only the service they receive, but the people who walk alongside them in their care journey.

4. This work is meaningful. But we also know that it is becoming more demanding. Singapore’s population is ageing rapidly. More seniors are living with complex care needs, including dementia, frailty and mental health conditions. Families and caregivers also need more support as they care for their loved ones.

5. Against this backdrop, the community care sector will need to continue strengthening care in the community, building capabilities, and supporting the workforce who make this care possible.

SPARK: Catalysing Innovation, Transforming Quality, Empowering Care

6. This is why the theme of the Vanguard Quality Forum, “SPARK: Catalysing Innovation, Transforming Quality, Empowering Care”, is both apt and timely.

7. It builds on last year’s theme, “Think Differently: Break the Norm, Shape the Future”. Last year’s theme encouraged us to challenge old ways of doing things. This year’s theme takes us one step further: a call to action. It asks how we can turn new ideas into practical improvements that make a difference to residents, families and staff.