New Centre to Boost Preparedness for Infectious Diseases

It will ensure nation is better ready to detect and respond to pandemics, disease outbreaks

- Judith Tan

A new centre has been launched to ensure Singapore is better prepared for and able to detect and respond to pandemics and infectious disease outbreaks.

The Centre for Infectious Disease Emergency Response (Cider) also serves as an education and operational hub for public health professionals, researchers, and policymakers across Singapore and internationally.

The centre, led by infectious diseases and global health expert Dale Fisher, is part of the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at NUS, and represents the university's ongoing commitment to building a robust global health infrastructure.

It was launched by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Feb 10.

Mr Ong told the audience in the auditorium at the NUHS Tower Block that a future pandemic crisis is a reality that the world and Singapore cannot ignore.

He said Singapore has taken many steps to strengthen its preparedness in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

They included participating in the global surveillance system for potential infectious disease threats, amending the Infectious Diseases Act, and setting up the Communicable Diseases Agency and the Healthcare Reserve Force, manned by about 1,000 volunteers, to support non-clinical, operational roles such as testing and case management operations.