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On 1st September 1994, Foo Hai Ch'an Monastery, parent organization of Ren Ci, assumed responsibility for the 174-bedded Chronic Sick Unit of the former Woodbridge Hospital (now known as Buangkok Green Medical Park).
On 23rd June 1995, the hospital organised its inaugural major fundraising event - Ren Ci Charity Nite - at the Neptune Theatre Restaurant. The special charity concert was graced by Guest-of-Honour Dr Wee Kim Wee, former President of Singapore.
In October 1997, the hospital established a cosy rehabilitative environment for the elderly in Hougang named Ren Ci Day Care Centre For The Elderly. This direction to set up more community services gradually spawned a chain of other affiliate centres rendering Elderly Care, Child Care and After-School Care services in the community.
Ren Ci had planned to expand its services and upgrade its level of care by taking over the premises of the vacated Toa Payoh Hospital to build her very own hospital building, only to return the land to the Government after it was earmarked for economic development.
On 20th March 1999, internationally-acclaimed Taiwanese stunt sensation, Mr Ko Shou Liang, a.k.a. "Blackie", wowed the packed audience at the National Stadium with his Flying-Car stunt during the mega-fundraising event. Also supporting this cause were Andy Lau, Eric Tsang, Jackie Wu, Jeff Chang and many more luminaries.
In response to a long waiting list of patients at any one time, we expanded our services by taking on the care of 150 Chronic Sick and 150 Nursing Home beds in June 1999. Later, as the Singapore Christian Home needed some space to house 30 of their nursing home residents, Ren Ci gave up two of the 11 blocks of her Pavilion wards. Hence, leaving her to care for 150 chronic sick beds and 120 nursing home beds.
With the inclusion of Nursing Home Services, the hospital was renamed "Ren Ci Hospital & Medicare Centre", to reflect the array of community-based integrated health care services on offer.
In January 2000, the "Domiciliary Care Services" was set up with the Sembawang - Hong Kah Community Development Council (now known as North West Community Development Council) to provide home-based medical and nursing care to homebound patients. This service is now extended island wide.
In view of Ren Ci's graciousness in returning the site of the Toa Payoh Hospital to the government, Ministry of Health (MOH) reslated some the former buildings of Tan Tock Seng Hospital for the Ren Ci Community Hospital. With the Community Hospital plans now back on track, Ren Ci wasted little time and quickly began refurbishment work on the allocated site.
As the organisation grew, Ren Ci believed in adopting a set of standards and procedures that would make its operations run efficiently and hence went for the ISO 9000 certification in July 2002.
Besides elderly care services, the hospital together with Central CDC and Bishan East Citizens' Consultative Committee, setup the Central Singapore Bishan East Student & Child Care Centre on 2nd January 2002.
The first Ren Ci Vegetarian Food Fiesta was held at Suntec City, outside Tower 5, from 26-28 July 2002. The overwhelming reception for this culinary event for charity made it an annual fund raising event for the hospital.
Connecting with TV viewers all over the island for the very first time, the Ren Ci Charity Show's maiden voyage over the airwaves on Channel U received tremendous public support, raising S$6.5m on 12th January 2003.
In 2003, Ren Ci was ready and eager to serve Community Hospital's patients. Then SARS struck. With the Nation's interest at heart, Ren Ci gave up its newly renovated building to Tan Tock Seng Communicable Disease Centre.
Ren Ci celebrated it's 10th Anniversary with a series of community health fairs at Suntec City and HDB Hub, Open House & Carnival and a Gala Appreciation Dinner to thank donors, patrons, volunteers, business partners and well-wishers.
In March 2004, the Bishan East Acupuncture & Physiotherapy Centre was set up and it introduced a unique East-meets-West approach of combined acupuncture and physiotherapy rehabilitation to the public.
On 9th September, Ren Ci was awarded the Country Winner and clinched third spot in the overall rankings of the Asia Pacific NGO Awards organised by Citigroup Asia Pacific and Resource Alliance. The award gives recognition to the best non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and non-profit organisations for their exemplary community efforts.
After a 3-year wait, the MOH reinstated our hopes of building a new hospital by allocating a 0.5hectare site on Irrawaddy Road.
The official groundbreaking ceremony of the new Ren Ci Hospital, Irrawaddy, took place on 15th October 2005, and Guest-of-Honour Deputy Prime Minister Mr Wong Kan Seng presided over the day's proceedings. He was joined by other luminaries, including Minister for Health Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Senior Minister of State Dr Balaji Sadasivan and Minister of State Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon.
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