Health City Novena is the integrated healthcare master plan development in Singapore where care and community both take centrestage. It aims to shape the future healthcare model of Singapore, anchor the Regional Health System to enhance the health of all in Central Singapore and ultimately empower people via a new mode of active and healthy living for everyone.
First conceptualized in 2010, this master plan has since been developed in consultation with stakeholders and the community.
An integrated and sustainable urban development, the Health City will incorporate many vibrant and outstanding features. These will extend beyond healthcare to encompass a complete and holistic eco-system that includes health services, research and education, commercial, leisure and public spaces – achieving the goal of building a place where healthy life is central.
There are four key elements to the master plan - Care, Continuous Learning & Innovation, Community and Connectivity.
Health City Novena is the integrated healthcare master plan development in Singapore where care and community both take centrestage. It aims to shape the future healthcare model of Singapore, anchor the Regional Health System to enhance the health of all in Central Singapore and ultimately empower people via a new mode of active and healthy living for everyone.
First conceptualized in 2010, this master plan has since been developed in consultation with stakeholders and the community.
An integrated and sustainable urban development, the Health City will incorporate many vibrant and outstanding features. These will extend beyond healthcare to encompass a complete and holistic eco-system that includes health services, research and education, commercial, leisure and public spaces – achieving the goal of building a place where healthy life is central.
There are four key elements to the master plan – Care, Continuous Learning & Innovation, Community and Connectivity.
From modern lifestyles and demographic changes to the threat of epidemics and potential civil emergencies, healthcare policies, infrastructure and delivery must be able to respond to current and future healthcare needs.
In view of the increasing and ageing population, more resources will be channeled to specialist, ambulatory and intermediate care.
By 2030, healthcare space in Novena will have increased by 150%. Some 600,000 sqm of space will be used for learning, teaching and healing by then. Five new care buildings including a new national centre will be added to the precinct.
For optimal impact, the master plan has given due consideration to how each should be sited and linked vis-àvis the current buildings to optimise adjacency and synergy. The aim is to ensure that complementary functions can be aligned and provided holistically and conveniently.
To ensure a closer alignment between the health needs of the population with the skillsets of healthcare professionals, it is imperative that TTSH and institutions within the National Healthcare Group as well as other stakeholder organisations, work closely with the third medical school and other education and training bodies to develop holistic training curriculum and programmes.
LKCMedicine, the third medical school features an innovative and modern curriculum, with students taught by world-class experts, working in teams in a high-tech environment and gaining experience from the start in various actual settings where healthcare is delivered.
Plans are in the works for two more buildings for learning – Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s medical education and training building, as well as a future health sciences school.
The aim is to create facilities that will synergise with one another, enable different groups of healthcare professionals to constantly upgrade their skills and integrate clinical training such that multi-disciplinary care teams can be more adept and effective. To empower in the community, caregiver training will also be conducted within these new buildings.
As a long-term resident in Novena, the project will create an environment that the public will be drawn to. There will be distinctive architecture and urban design elements to create a sense of arrival and imbue the area with its own distinctive identity.
Lush open spaces, parks, plazas and pedestrian-friendly boulevards will make it conducive for activities to be held there. The sheltered boulevard leading to the MRT station will make a quick stroll a more lively affair with shops on both sides of the path. Elsewhere, Central Park is expected to be a key attraction for families. Needless to say, preserving the proud heritage of this corner of Novena will also be an important goal. Suggestions from the community such as trails for health, eco and heritage have also been included.
When the development is completed in 2030, more than 30,000 people will be expected to circulate through Health City Novena daily.
A key feature of the development is hence connectivity – ensuring that people and traffic flows are smooth, safe and rational, and always designed with its dynamic community in mind.
To this end, a highly connected network of public walkways, streets, boulevards and roads is planned, which means moving into, through and within the development will simply be a breezy affair.
All buildings will be linked at three levels – above ground, street level and basement. The differing needs of five distinct groups were considered in the route design process – patients (both inpatients and outpatients), staff, students, residents and the public.
Thought has been given to, for example, how patients would be cared for throughout their time here and their movement from one facility to the next. Inpatient movement between healthcare buildings within the Health City will be via dedicated skybridges, built at the same level throughout Health City to ensure hasslefree transfers and privacy.
Outpatients who come for consultations will find their clinics located nearer to the Novena MRT station for easier access with pathways to even the furthest facilities designed to be pleasant, sheltered and safe.