The SMA Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on 25 April 2021.
Dr Tan Yia Swam started the proceedings by thanking Members for attending the AGM via teleconference. She highlighted the following key points during the President's message:
- Adapting to change – New SMA leadership and new Chief Administrator in FY2020/2021
- Adversity – COVID-19, support for doctors (masks, communication, mental health), partnering with the Ministry of Health
Advocacy – Website listing doctors without permission, health insurance, harassment/bullying concerns
Honorary Secretary Dr Ng Chew Lip highlighted the ground rules for the teleconferencing AGM, and referred Members to the SMA Annual Report 2020/2021 themed "Together, We Can".
Next, Honorary Treasurer Dr Lim Kheng Choon presented the 2020 accounts for SMA, of which he highlighted an operating surplus of $707K (excluding investment accounts) in 2020.
The accounts for SMA Pte Ltd (SMAPL) was presented by Adj Prof Tan Sze Wee, Chairperson of SMAPL. SMAPL's profit and loss statement largely depends on the performance of its investments. For 2020, SMAPL investment account achieved a net profit of $110K after tax.
Dr Chong Yeh Woei, Chairperson of the SMA Charity Fund (SMACF), then presented his report. In 2020, SMACF awarded bursaries to 55 medical students, disbursing a total of $275,000. Members present at the AGM were encouraged to donate to SMACF.
Members present affirmed the SMA Council's proposal to unanimously elect A/Prof Cheong Pak Yean and Dr Thirumoorthy s/o Thamotharampillai as SMA Honorary Members.
Elections for the 62nd SMA Council were then conducted. Dr Tan Yia Swam was re-elected as SMA President and two new Council members, Dr Lee Yee Mun and Dr Raj Kumar Menon made introductions to the Members in attendance. Following which, the election for the executive committee was conducted
The AGM meeting recorded a vote of thanks for the two outgoing Council members, A/Prof Tan Choon Kiat Nigel and Dr Woon Yng Yng Bertha, for their contributions to SMA.
The AGM approved the re-appointment of the following Trustees for the SMA Trust Fund, for a three-year term from 2021 to 2024:
- A/Prof Cheong Pak Yean
- Dr Lee Pheng Soon
- Prof Low Cheng Hock
- Dr Tan Kok Soo
Dr Tan Yew Ghee
The AGM also approved a motion of thanks to Mr Gan Kim Yong, outgoing Minister for Health, for his contributions to the healthcare profession.
With that, the AGM was concluded.
