EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
Issue link: https://digital.eyeworld.org/i/115557
132 EW International March 2013 International outlook A tiny island: The new epicenter of Asian eyecare by Matt Young EyeWorld Contributing Writer Why Singapore is making a splash in ophthalmology business A sia continues to grow in its impact on the global economy. Within Asia, Singapore has a unique position that bridges the economic and cultural differences between the Far East and Western nations. In this article, EyeWorld highlights the tiny nation of Singapore and its outsized contribution to the business of eyecare in the region. John A. Vukich, M.D., international editor I n September 2012, HOYA Surgical Optics announced the opening of its new global headquarters not in traditional eyecare business hubs like the U.S. or Germany, but in Singapore. Forty-seven years ago, this never would have happened. In August 1965, Singapore became the first nation in the history of the world to gain its independence unwillingly, having been expelled from Malaysia. The new nation, many times smaller than Puerto Rico (697 square kilometers versus 13,790 as of 2009), would rely on the country it was just kicked out of for water, the international community for much else, and the sweat of their own brows. Needless to say, times were tough. Today, Singapore is the 6th best place in the world to be born, according to a 2013 quality-of-life report by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Compare that to 16th for the U.S. and 36th for Malaysia. There are too many historical reasons behind this catharsis for a quick explanation, but suffice it to say Singapore has done very well for itself, and eyecare business is repositioning itself there in a big way. While HOYA moves there, Bausch + Lomb cultivates there In his explanation of HOYA Surgical Optics' new Singapore location, president and CEO Thomas A. Dunlap mentioned some reasons that make the nation so attractive. "We have had a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Singapore since 2003, and the integration of headquarter functions in 2011 enhanced our operational efficiency and brought us closer to customers in important emerging markets," he said at the time of the opening of the headquarters. His words stress two important factors: quality manufacturing in medicine, and easy access to greater Asia. The company also noted that collaboration with important research institutions in Singapore, as well as the government, would be excellent as the headquarters rollout moved forward. Beyond corporate motives, industry leaders are flocking to Singapore for quality of life. Lipika Roy, M.D., M.B.A., probably would have led a very good life if she had chosen to remain in Chennai, India. Her husband, a corneal refractive surgeon, still lives