Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) has revealed that 11 other development projects, beyond the previously identified National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) building, also held undeclared savings. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung confirmed this in a parliamentary reply on August 4, following an Auditor-General’s Office (AGO) report that initially flagged governance lapses in the NCCS project. These findings highlight broader issues in how healthcare infrastructure projects managed by MOH Holdings have been handled regarding financial reporting and approval processes.
Of the 11 newly identified projects, six have been completed with their accounts officially closed, while five remain ongoing. The ministry noted that for the six completed projects, initial estimated savings of $165 million grew to approximately $436 million upon finalization. These funds have since been returned to the Ministry of Finance for reallocation. For the five active projects, current estimated savings stand at about $48 million, a reduction from an initial $95 million after accounting for necessary project-related expenses.
These disclosures follow an audit that uncovered lapses in financial governance, contract management, and consultancy service agreements. The AGO report, published in July, specifically criticized the NCCS project for failing to declare savings and for proceeding with certain works without prior approval from the Ministry of Finance. The ministry has stated that these lapses were not the result of deliberate wrongdoing but rather reflected misinterpretations of financial guidelines and a desire to maintain project momentum.
In response to the audit, the Ministry of Health has committed to strengthening its oversight and internal processes to prevent future recurrences. The ministry emphasized that the project teams involved acted in good faith, aiming to expand national healthcare capacity during periods of urgent need. Moving forward, the public can expect tighter scrutiny and more rigorous adherence to financial reporting requirements for all ongoing and future healthcare infrastructure developments.