Ms Vijaya Rao is the Director of the International Collaboration Office (ICO), SingHealth, and the Deputy Director of the Clinical Health Systems Programme at SDGHI. She has a Master’s degree in Social Work and Health Administration with over 25 years of experience in areas such as healthcare policy and planning, community healthcare management, applied social service and more. Among her wealth of experience, strategic service development, direct step-down care and geriatric care has been her forte and passion. 

She has been actively developing standards of quality care and outcome management for the healthcare and social service sectors. She piloted case management services from acute hospital settings through community settings and eventually developed and implemented them nation-wide in Singapore. Ms Vijaya is also a member of the national workgroups such as elder care master plan, elder abuse and Workforce Redevelopment (WDA). She was actively engaged by WHO programmes and has project experience on Mental Health issues as well. 

Apart from hospital operations management, Ms Vijaya is actively involved in regional healthcare strategic development activities, working with various healthcare providers in the region. With her diligent effort, she has developed exceptionally strong regional networks, working with government bodies, ministries and many other public and private stakeholders.