Singapore’s Health Promotion Board will have a new chairman from Oct. 1, with NTUC Enterprise chairman Tan Hee Teck appointed to lead the statutory board as it continues efforts to strengthen preventive health and support national initiatives including Healthier SG, Age Well SG and Grow Well SG.
The Ministry of Health and HPB announced that Tan will serve a three-year term from Oct. 1, 2026, to Sept. 30, 2029. He will succeed Wong Kim Yin, who will retire from the HPB board on Sept. 30 after serving as chairman since April 2024.
Tan joined the HPB board on April 1 this year. He brings more than 20 years of leadership and management experience spanning the business, public and community sectors.
Before taking on his new role, Tan was chairman of NTUC Enterprise and president of the Singapore National Employers Federation. He also previously served as chairman and chief executive of Resorts World Sentosa and chief executive of Genting Singapore.
At NTUC Enterprise, Tan oversees the organisation’s social mission and businesses supporting working families. During his time at SNEF, he focused on workforce development and represented employers on issues affecting businesses and workers.
MOH and HPB said his experience across different sectors would help provide strategic guidance as the board advances Singapore’s national health-promotion efforts.
The leadership change comes as HPB continues to expand its role beyond traditional public-health campaigns. Its work increasingly includes encouraging healthier lifestyles, supporting preventive care and using digital tools to help residents develop and maintain healthier habits.
Under outgoing chairman Wong Kim Yin, HPB worked with industry partners to increase the availability of lower-sodium food options and launched an evidence-based design guide aimed at improving the quality of mental well-being programmes.
HPB also expanded partnerships with technology and healthcare companies to test targeted solutions for people at risk of health problems and those living with chronic conditions.
One of the most visible developments was the evolution of the Healthy 365 mobile application. Once primarily focused on tracking steps, the platform has been expanded into a more personalised health companion, with nearly 900,000 active users each month.
HPB also increased its focus on children’s health through Grow Well SG, including resources for parents and personalised health plans introduced in kindergartens and primary schools.
The transition comes at a time when Singapore is placing greater emphasis on preventing illness and encouraging healthier habits earlier in life. Healthier SG focuses on preventive care through stronger engagement between residents and family doctors, while Age Well SG addresses healthy ageing and Grow Well SG focuses on children’s health and development.
For Tan, the next three years will involve guiding HPB as these programmes continue to develop while the agency responds to changing health needs across Singapore’s ageing population, families and younger generations.
The bigger question now is how Tan’s experience across business, employers and community organisations will shape HPB’s next phase as Singapore places even greater emphasis on prevention rather than treating health problems only after they emerge.
