*NEW* - Long Range Planning for Emergency Care Services
2 September 2026
Main Applicant – Dr Ashish Kumar, Senior Principal Analyst, Health Services Research Centre (HSRC), SingHealth
Singapore’s emergency care system faces intensifying pressure from a rapidly aging population and rising emergency calls. This research focuses on long-range strategic planning by evaluating how public hospital Emergency Departments (EDs) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) 995 ambulance services can potentially be facing for the next decade.
Central to this study is the integration of Alternative Care Service Pathways (ACSPs), such as FNC (Flow Navigation Centres), the NurseFirst helpline, and specialized paramedic "see-and-treat" protocols. Using historical data and predictive modeling, the research analyzes how safely diverting non-life-threatening, low-acuity patients to these alternative pathways can alleviate system strain.
Ultimately, this study provides a data-driven framework for healthcare policymakers. By embedding ACSPs into Singapore’s long-term master planning, the research offers a practical blueprint to reduce ED overcrowding, optimize scarce healthcare manpower, and ensure that vital 995 resources remain strictly preserved for life-threatening medical crises.