Assignment for developing a food supply concept for the new Jurong General Hospital, Singapore

Singapore - Mar 8, 2010

i+o received the assignment for developing a food supply concept for the new Jurong General Hospital. In addition to the food supply, i+o also received the order to plan the clinic pharmacy, the central sterilization, the laundry supply, the in-house logistics and the waste management.

One special challenge of this project is the variety of eating habits in the Asia- Pacific region that have to be considered. In addition to the common hospital meal varieties, such as whole food, balanced diet or diet for diabetics, the food for the Muslim patients also needs to be prepared according to the Halal rules – the dietary rules of the Islam. Especially when facing this challenge, i+o was able to revert to the expertise of numerous international in-flight catering projects. From the very beginning, i.e. during the goods delivery as well as during storage, preparation and transport, the Halal and non-Halal food needs to be strictly separated.

Another specialty for the i+o planning team arises from the regional eating habits in South East Asia, where three warm meals a day are normal. Therefore, the food supply in the hospital includes breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as an afternoon snack. Additionally, the so called “Milo”, a grain coffee, is served with pastry after dinner.

A modern and process-oriented food supply is of great importance for hospital operators, not only in Germany. In the growing markets of Asia, the demand for intelligent supply chain solutions for the clinic catering is constantly growing. One example is the new Jurong General Hospital, presently developing in the Western part of Singapore. With a capacity of about 700 beds it will comprise in-patient and ambulant care as well as a rehab area close by. The hospital is planned to start operating at the end of 2014, together with the adjoining Community Hospital, which has 200 beds.