In this second instalment, we spotlight familiar faces among the candidates of GE2025 – doctors who have long straddled medicine and politics.
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In Part 1 of this series, we met new healthcare candidates in Singapore’s 2025 General Election, including dentists, surgeons, and psychologists stepping into politics for the first time.
This second part looks at familiar faces in politics who have long moved between treating patients and shaping national policy. They’ve run hospitals, led ministries, and debated laws that affect everything from healthcare funding to social welfare.
Here’s a closer look at the doctors bringing their voices back to the ballot in GE2025.
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by surname.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan
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An ophthalmologist by training, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan is the current Minister for Foreign Affairs. He has held several Cabinet roles since first entering Parliament in 2001.
Prior to entering politics, Dr Balakrishnan was Medical Director of the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) and later CEO of Singapore General Hospital. During his tenure at SNEC, he led several clinical research trials aimed at controlling the progression of myopia in children. He also chaired the Specialist Training Committee responsible for the accreditation and training programme for all ophthalmology trainees.
In GE2025, Dr Balakrishnan remains a key public figure for the PAP, especially in areas of foreign policy and digital transformation.
- Specialty: Ophthalmology
- Political Journey: Minister for Foreign Affairs, PAP candidate since 2001
- Constituency: Holland-Bukit Timah GRC
Dr Lam Pin Min
After his term in Parliament ended in 2020, Dr Lam Pin Min returned to clinical practice. Now CEO and Director of Paediatric Ophthalmology at Eagle Eye Centre, he continues to treat children with vision conditions while also serving as a visiting senior consultant at the Singapore National Eye Centre.
He was first elected to Parliament in 2006 and served as Senior Minister of State for Health and Transport. Beyond domestic health policy, he represented Singapore at the WHO’s Western Pacific office and was an Executive Board Member from 2019 to 2020.
In Sengkang, he has kept a steady grassroots presence since 2020, working to regain trust and support in a ward previously held by the opposition. In GE2025, he is contesting Sengkang GRC with the PAP.
- Specialty: Paediatric Ophthalmology
- Political Journey: Former Senior Minister of State; PAP MP (2006–2020)
- Constituency: Sengkang GRC
Dr Koh Poh Koon
With a background in surgery, Dr Koh Poh Koon built his medical career around colorectal cancer care, leading surgical teams, running clinical trials, and co-founding the region’s first specialist colorectal hospital. Previously, he held key appointments at the Ministry of Health, where he oversaw healthcare financing, workforce policy, and chronic disease strategy.
Dr Koh entered politics in 2015 as MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC and was re-elected in 2020 for Tampines GRC. He currently serves as Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, and for Manpower.
His medical background continues to shape his policy approach, particularly through initiatives under Healthier SG. In GE2025, he is contesting Tampines GRC with a campaign focused on jobs, sustainability, and community health.
- Specialty: Colorectal Surgery
- Political Journey: PAP MP since 2015, Senior Minister of State
- Constituency: Tampines GRC
Dr Janil Puthucheary
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Dr Janil Puthucheary spent his early medical career in paediatric intensive care, managing critical cases at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Alongside clinical work, he taught at Duke-NUS, where he held an associate professorship.
He entered Parliament in 2011 and now serves as Senior Minister of State in the Health and Digital Development ministries. As Party Whip, he is responsible for coordinating debate and aligning the party’s position in Parliament. He is contesting Punggol GRC in GE2025, where he advocates for stronger family services and targeted neighbourhood support.
- Specialty: Paediatric Intensive Care
- Political Journey: PAP MP since 2011, Party Whip, Senior Minister of State
- Constituency: Punggol GRC
Dr Tan Cheng Bock
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Dr Tan Cheng Bock entered politics in 1980 after years as a general practitioner serving residents in rural Ama Keng. He was first elected as a PAP MP in Ayer Rajah and held the seat for 26 years, eventually retiring in 2006. In 2019, he founded the Progress Singapore Party.
As a doctor, he chose to work in farming communities, treating patients who paid in kind. He offered home care, trained family members in basic nursing, and supported patients who could not afford treatment. His village clinic became a meeting place for generations of residents.
As an MP, he championed policies like using CPF for education, free Sunday parking at HDB estates, and set up the feedback unit that would later become REACH. In GE2025, he returns to the West Coast GRC campaign trail, calling for more balanced voices in Parliament.
- Specialty: General Practice
- Political Journey: Former PAP MP (1980–2006); PSP Chairman since 2019
- Constituency: West Coast GRC
Dr Tan See Leng
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One of Singapore’s largest private healthcare groups was built under the leadership of Dr Tan See Leng, a medical doctor turned entrepreneur who entered politics in 2020. His medical career spanned both clinical practice and leadership, beginning in family medicine and later extending to healthcare entrepreneurship, academic teaching at Duke-NUS, and national-level roles such as serving on the Medishield Life Review Committee.
As Minister for Manpower, he has driven efforts to boost local employment, raise wages, and support lower-income workers. In GE2025, he leads the PAP team in Chua Chu Kang GRC, with jobs and cost-of-living concerns high on the agenda.
- Specialty: Family Medicine
- Political Journey: Manpower Minister, PAP MP since 2020
- Constituency: Chua Chu Kang GRC
Dr Paul Tambyah
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Dr Paul Tambyah is a Senior Consultant and professor in infectious diseases at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the first Singaporean to serve as President of the International Society for Infectious Diseases. He is also Secretary-General of the Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection.
His research spans emerging infections, hospital-acquired diseases, and the ethical questions that surface during outbreaks. At NUS, he founded the infectious diseases division and has held leadership roles shaping both clinical education and global health conversations.
Dr Tambyah entered politics in 2015 with the Singapore Democratic Party, where he now serves as chairman. In GE2025, he is contesting Bukit Panjang SMC, following a close result in the 2020 election.
- Specialty: Infectious Diseases
- Political Journey: SDP Chairman, candidate since 2015
- Constituency: Bukit Panjang SMC
Keep Up With GE2025
Singapore’s General Election 2025 campaign period will feature a range of rallies, walkabouts, and political broadcasts.
For official information and live updates, you can visit:
- Elections Department Singapore (ELD): www.eld.gov.sg
- CNA GE2025 Special Coverage: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/ge2025-singapore-general-election
- The Straits Times GE2025 Hub: www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics
- Party Websites for Rally Schedules and Manifestos:
- People’s Action Party (PAP): www.pap.org.sg
- Workers’ Party (WP): www.wp.sg
- Progress Singapore Party (PSP): www.psp.org.sg
- Singapore Democratic Party (SDP): yoursdp.org
This article is for general public education and does not endorse any political party or candidate.
