DEDICATED SAF CARDIAC SCREENING FACILITY LAUNCHED

All pre-enlistees and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) servicemen have to undergo mandatory cardiac screening before they are enlisted or deployed for military training and operations.

To enhance and refine its cardiac screening system to provide robust and quality screening, the SAF has partnered with the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) to establish the SAF Cardiac Fitness Centre (SCFC) - a centralised facility dedicated to pre-enlistees and servicemen which was officially launched on 16 Jan.

Pre-enlistees and servicemen found to have abnormalities such as a heart murmurs, or cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes and high cholesterol in their initial medical examinations by SAF Medical Officers (MOs) will be referred to the SCFC for specialised cardiac screening investigations. There, they will undergo advanced tests such as Exercise Electrocardiography (ECG), Echocardiography, Myocardial Perfusion Imaging, and CT Coronary Artery Calcium Score.

This is in contrast to the previous system where individuals would have to travel to various health-care facilities such as the Military Medical Institute or restructured hospitals to undergo these specialised tests.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, 2nd Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing highlighted the increased convenience that the SCFC provided: "This new centre will provide a one-stop service for all our servicemen for any issues relating to cardiac fitness. For the soldiers, it will translate into shorter waiting time and more comprehensive health-care checks when they come here."

Chief of Medical Corps, Rear-Admiral (Dr) Kang Wee Lee, was in agreement: "With all cardiac screening being centralised at a dedicated centre, the SAF is able to better collate and study the cardiovascular risk profile of our pre-enlistees and servicemen."

Mr Chan then elaborated upon the SAF's unique approach towards health care - a combined civilian and military health-care system in contrast to independent ones in many overseas nation: "There is no reason for us to design a separate and independent military health-care system that is distinct and separate from the rest of the civilian health-care system.

"There is also no reason for us to make a distinction between servicemen and civilians. Because every one of our servicemen, especially Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) are also civilians," Mr Chan added.

Located on level eight of the NHCS building, the SCFC also allows for a closer research partnership between the SAF and the NHCS through better collation and study of the health profiles of pre-enlistees and servicemen.

Major (Dr) Muhammad Idu, a cardiologist and one of the two SAF MOs attached to the SCFC elaborated: "The SCFC allows for comprehensive screening for cardiac disorders.

"It (the tests at the SCFC) are actually a tertiary-level check because the primary checks and screenings are done by our medical centre MOs."

Corporal (CPL) Mohammad Ridzuan Bin Ishak, from 1 Army Maintenance Base Headquarters was found to have an abnormal ECG after his tier one screening. He was then referred to the SCFC where he underwent the Exercise ECG and was found to have a minor heart abnormality. Eventually, CPL Ridzuan was graded Physical Employment Status (PES) B2L2. On his experience, he said: "During the Stress ECG, I had to run on the treadmill, which had 10 stages of increasing speeds."

He laughed as he reminisced: "I only had the stamina to reach stage seven Luckily, my condition was diagnosed as a minor one and I am still combat-fit, completing my Basic Military Training with no difficulties."