Singapore's healthcare financing system was shaped by decades of deliberate reform, cross-agency collaboration, and a commitment to balancing individual needs with the sustainability of public finances. Mrs Tan Ching Yee, who served as Permanent Secretary at both the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance, with a career spanning more than 38 years in the Singapore Public Service, offers her leadership reflections on this journey — the milestones, the hard choices, and the values that guided decision-making along the way. She also looks ahead, sharing her perspectives on the opportunities and challenges that will define the next chapter of healthcare financing in Singapore.

Mrs Tan Ching Yee served for over 38 years in the Singapore Public Service, holding appointments across the Ministries of Trade and Industry, Education, Information Communications and the Arts, Health, Finance, and the Prime Minister's Office. She contributed to policymaking at the intersection of economic and social policies, and oversaw critical relief measures during COVID-19. Known for her emphasis on people and leadership development, she continues to serve in the Prime Minister's Office and the Energy Market Authority.