OPS & TRAINING
SAF, TAN TOCK SENG HOSPITAL TO COLLABORATE IN TRAUMA TRAINING
18 Oct 2007
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Medical Corps and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in the field of traumatology.
Trauma caused by injuries is the number one killer of people under the age of 35 in Singapore. It is also the fifth leading cause of death across all ages.
According to Deputy Chief Army Medical Officer Lieutenant-Colonel (Dr) Chua Wei Chong, trauma management is of particular concern to the SAF Medical Corps, since its medical officers deal mainly with combat and training injuries.
"People get injured and suffer from wounds and fractures, so the field of trauma is a core competency that we are constantly developing over the years," he said.
Armed with the latest knowledge and technical skills, the SAF can then raise the field surgical capabilities of its combat support hospitals and naval ship hospitals.
TTSH sees the largest number of trauma patients in Singapore over 900 cases per year. It has benchmarked its trauma management protocols against international standards.
It also conducts widely recognised trauma management courses, including the Definitive Surgical Trauma Care (DSTC) course.
The DSTC course provides surgeons with the necessary skills to perform 'damage control surgery' in major trauma cases. This has helped to improve survival rates. TTSH is the only hospital in Singapore conducting this course.
The SAF's Chief of Medical Corps Rear-Admiral (Dr) John Wong and TTSH's Chairman Medical Board Professor Philip Choo signed the MoU on 18 Oct.
As part of the agreement, more than 100 National Servicemen (NS) and regular medical officers from the SAF will attend the DSTC course over the next three years. The first batch of 12 officers will embark on the two-day course next month.
From next year, the SAF Medical Corps will also conduct a military module of the DSTC that focuses on combat injuries and performing surgery in an austere environment.
"Such initiatives will greatly enhance the treatment of casualties in war, as well as in humanitarian assistance and peace support missions," said RADM (Dr) Wong.
Other areas of cooperation include attaching SAF medical personnel to specialist departments in TTSH for training and conducting joint research in traumatology.
"The SAF Medical Corps and TTSH have long enjoyed a good relationship of close collaboration in areas ranging from training, professional exchanges and participation in humanitarian and disaster assistance missions," said RADM (Dr) Wong.
"This close partnership is vital to our vision to be a world-class medical corps, entrusted with the health of our soldiers, and committed to optimising their combat performance," he added.
Trauma caused by injuries is the number one killer of people under the age of 35 in Singapore. It is also the fifth leading cause of death across all ages.
According to Deputy Chief Army Medical Officer Lieutenant-Colonel (Dr) Chua Wei Chong, trauma management is of particular concern to the SAF Medical Corps, since its medical officers deal mainly with combat and training injuries.
"People get injured and suffer from wounds and fractures, so the field of trauma is a core competency that we are constantly developing over the years," he said.
Armed with the latest knowledge and technical skills, the SAF can then raise the field surgical capabilities of its combat support hospitals and naval ship hospitals.
TTSH sees the largest number of trauma patients in Singapore over 900 cases per year. It has benchmarked its trauma management protocols against international standards.
It also conducts widely recognised trauma management courses, including the Definitive Surgical Trauma Care (DSTC) course.
The DSTC course provides surgeons with the necessary skills to perform 'damage control surgery' in major trauma cases. This has helped to improve survival rates. TTSH is the only hospital in Singapore conducting this course.
The SAF's Chief of Medical Corps Rear-Admiral (Dr) John Wong and TTSH's Chairman Medical Board Professor Philip Choo signed the MoU on 18 Oct.
As part of the agreement, more than 100 National Servicemen (NS) and regular medical officers from the SAF will attend the DSTC course over the next three years. The first batch of 12 officers will embark on the two-day course next month.
From next year, the SAF Medical Corps will also conduct a military module of the DSTC that focuses on combat injuries and performing surgery in an austere environment.
"Such initiatives will greatly enhance the treatment of casualties in war, as well as in humanitarian assistance and peace support missions," said RADM (Dr) Wong.
Other areas of cooperation include attaching SAF medical personnel to specialist departments in TTSH for training and conducting joint research in traumatology.
"The SAF Medical Corps and TTSH have long enjoyed a good relationship of close collaboration in areas ranging from training, professional exchanges and participation in humanitarian and disaster assistance missions," said RADM (Dr) Wong.
"This close partnership is vital to our vision to be a world-class medical corps, entrusted with the health of our soldiers, and committed to optimising their combat performance," he added.
ALSO READ IN OPS & TRAINING
ba35f089-91a3-4ebe-849c-b587552a027d.jpg?sfvrsn=a96efe14_5 "11mar26_news1_photo1 (2)")
SAF to develop “high-low” mix of capabilities, from high-end new assets to low-cost drones
27 Feb 2026
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) must continue to modernise and upgrade to keep pace with an expanded range of threats.
New firing range complex at Bedok Camp; Medical Classification System to be redesigned
27 Feb 2026
To train soldiers for a more complex environment, the SAF will build a new Multi-Mission Range Complex, as well as introduce opportunities for national servicemen to take on new roles, and more ways to volunteer.
Reaffirming their commitment to defence
07 Feb 2026
Over 3,000 NSmen displayed their commitment to Singapore’s defence at a MOBEX in Selarang Camp.