“We want to encourage others to take a proactive attitude towards their health by visiting us even when they are well,” says Dr Ong, who graduated with Bachelor’s degrees in medicine and surgery from the University of Manchester in the UK. He trained in specialities, such as orthopaedic surgery, emergency medicine, and ear, nose and throat surgery, at various hospitals in Singapore before going into general practice in 2016.

“As a family physician, I am able to care for my patients, from infancy to old age,” he says. “I find it immensely rewarding and enjoy the continuity of care that I can provide my them.”

Since one in four Singaporeans will be 65 or older by 2030, Dr Ong believes RMDY can play a crucial role in meeting the “increasingly complex” healthcare needs here. “As we age, chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease tend to creep up on us, causing serious and even life-threatening complications. Preventive care is expected to be a major focal point for family physicians as diseases that are more common in the elderly become increasingly prevalent in our ageing population,” he explains.

To expand the scope of RMDY’s preventive care — services currently include general wellness, men’s and women’s health, as well as sexual and digital health — with specialities such as psychiatry, orthopaedics and aesthetics, he intends to open two more clinics in Singapore. By 2026, the goal is to set up outposts in other parts of South-east Asia.

We want to encourage others to take a proactive attitude towards their health by visiting us even when they are well.

As Singapore’s population ages, polypharmacy has also become more prevalent. In general, older adults regularly consume at least five or more medications, which have been associated with an increased risk of complications.

According to Dr Ong, “The best way to overcome this is to encourage patients to return consistently for follow- up appointments, so doctors can better track their conditions and filter out unnecessary medications.”

One way to protect against diseases is early detection, and this can be achieved through regular health screenings. He’s seen his fair share of patients who put off their screenings because they feel fine, are busy with work and family, worry about the costs or don’t want to find out about potential health issues”.

As he advises: “Wouldn’t you want to get treated if you knew you had cancer, for example? To do so, you must first be screened. In particular, illnesses like lung cancer, which can be deadly, may be completely asymptomatic until they’re advanced.”

“Many sexually transmitted diseases can also be asymptomatic. You could get infected with HIV but the symptoms may not present themselves until 20 years later. Additionally, it is estimated that up to 10 per cent of men and 30 per cent of women may be symptomless with chlamydia or gonorrhoea.”

We can live healthier and better by promoting a greater sense of wellness through regular health screenings. As a parting shot, we ask Dr Ong, who keeps fit with basketball, running and golf, what he does to de-stress. “Household chores!” he replies with a smile.

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