Fireside Chat with Professor Kenneth Mak Inspires LKCMedicine Students
Should we focus more on extending life or improving quality of life?
Can we sustainably support a population that lives much longer?
How can we better utilise predictive health and preventive health?
These were some of the questions posed and discussed during a lively fireside chat with Singapore’s Director-General of Health, Professor Kenneth Mak on the evening of 17 September 2025 at the Novena Campus.
Speaking candidly at the session, Prof Mak drew on his extensive experience in public health and clinical medicine to discuss issues ranging from pandemic preparedness to the importance of an integrated healthcare system. Titled “Dealing with Complexity: Present and Future Challenges affecting our Healthcare System”, his presentation highlighted the evolving demands on healthcare professionals as Singapore faces an ageing population and rising chronic disease burden.
Organised by LKCMedicine Student Life & Support and supported by LKCMedicine Students’ Medical Society (LKCMedSoc), the fireside chat provided some 50 LKCMedicine students with an opportunity to gain insights into healthcare policy, and understand the role of future doctors in Singapore’s evolving healthcare landscape. Many were keen to learn about Prof Mak’s leadership role during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he spearheaded critical national health responses and advised policymakers.
Prof Mak reflected on the Ministry of Health’s priorities, such as preventive care and the Age Well SG strategy, urging students to see themselves as enablers in advancing population health, and reminding them that their role as future doctors extends beyond clinical care to leadership, advocacy, and shaping healthier communities.
Prof Mak highlighted the need for Singapore’s healthcare system to rely less on sheer manpower and more on the smart use of technology to meet future demands. With the twin challenges of an ageing population and a shrinking workforce, he stressed that innovations such as digital health tools, automation, and artificial intelligence will be critical in enhancing productivity, easing the burden on healthcare professionals, and ensuring patients continue to receive high-quality, accessible care.
Prof Mak also emphasised the vital role that nurses play as the backbone of Singapore’s healthcare system. He noted with concern that the COVID-19 pandemic had worsened attrition rates among nurses, as many left the profession due to the immense physical and emotional strain. With the demand for healthcare services continuing to rise, he stressed the importance of supporting, valuing, and retaining the nursing workforce to ensure Singapore’s healthcare system remains resilient and sustainable.
During the Q&A session, moderated by Melissa Hock, President of the 13th LKCMedSoc), students sought Prof Mak’s insights on various issues such as healthy food options reaching senior mobility issues, strategies to support an ageing population, and the importance of preventive health in shaping Singapore’s future healthcare system.
Students walked away from Prof Mak’s sharing with renewed perspectives on how medicine and policy intersect. From understanding the thinking behind government decisions to appreciating the balance between grassroots concerns and national priorities, the session underscored the importance of leadership, responsibility, and foresight in shaping Singapore’s future healthcare landscape.
“Being able to understand what goes into the thought-process behind making certain government policies was interesting and insightful. It was inspiring to see how clinical expertise can be applied to leadership and policy. It made me think differently about the impact doctors can have at a national level.”
- M1 student Jasper Andreas
“The sharing on healthier living and the cost of eating healthy was very important because as Silver Generation Ambassadors, it provided us with perspectives as to what is happening on the grassroots level and what is being discussed at the higher level. It was a very good opportunity for us to link those two and understand the impact of it.”
- M2 student Elina Cho
“An interesting point Prof Mak raised was that while the government continues to focus on the ageing population, attention must also be given to the ageing healthcare workforce, including doctors and nurses. Their numbers will grow in the coming years, and as our workforce ages, we must ensure they remain supported, healthy, and equipped with the necessary skills to care for patients effectively.”
- M1 student Basu Mihika Saptarshi
“We got an insider look into how the Ministry of Health has tight stewardship of our healthcare expenditure and resources to ensure that we deliver value-based care to the general population. It was truly a privilege and a rare opportunity the School has presented to us students to hear from someone as experienced and esteemed as Prof Mak himself, who is not only a veteran in the field of medicine, but also policymaking.”
- M4 student Tan Yong Yi
The fireside chat was also attended by faculty members including Vice-Dean (Education) Associate Professor Faith Chia, Vice-Dean (Clinical Affairs) Professor Kwek Tong Kiat, as well as the various Assistant Deans and Deputy Heads of the School.
