The first ever Asian Surgical Network Symposium took place in Singapore from 20-21 February 2023 at the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre. The Symposium saw 46 regional surgical leaders and representatives come together to share key insights into their diverse experiences managing the impact of COVID-19 on their healthcare systems. Marking the progression of a global health research partnership spanning 9 countries in Asia, the Symposium offered a full programme of in-depth panels, work groups and presentations. Jointly organised by the Health Services Research Centre (HSRC), SingHealth International Collaboration Office (ICO) and SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI), the event was held with representatives from 17 institutions across the region.
Prof Kenneth Kwek, Deputy Group CEO, Innovation & Informatics, SingHealth and CEO of Singapore General Hospital graced the Symposium as its Guest-of-Honour, delivering an address to highlight the significance of the regional gathering.
We’re here today to discuss the ongoing pandemic, and the research and the healthcare response in our region. All of us recognise fully that this pandemic has had a profound impact on everyone – our whole society, our economy, in all our countries” shared Prof Kwek, highlighting that the pandemic first and foremost had a significant impact on systems and processes in the healthcare sector. “It was far-sighted [of the collaborative partners] to recognise the importance of studying the data over the last few years, before the pandemic, during the pandemic, and now looking forward. And taking the lessons that we learnt during the pandemic and seeing how we can leverage this not just to cope but to improve our systems and improve our care moving forward.”
On the first day of the Symposium, clinical leaders shared high level learnings on the management of COVID-19 and the impact on health systems from four workstreams. The learnings drew on the results of the COVID-19 IMPACTS study, based on regional data contributed by collaborating partners from India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Singapore. Workstream topics covered were The Impact of COVID-19 on the 3 Bellwether Surgeries, Breast Cancer Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic, The Impact of COVID-19 on Colorectal Cancer in South East Asia and Surgical Systems Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.