SINGAPORE : Singapore's second medical school, the Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School (GMS), has received a gift of $80 million from the estate of the late Khoo Teck Puat.

The gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the government, bringing the total sum to $160 million.

The money given will be used to grow the school's medical research initiatives, especially in infectious diseases.

Welcoming the gift, Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, said that the Duke University Board of Trustees gave the green light to award joint medical degrees for graduates of the four-year Graduate Medical School programme.

The school, which has the Health, Education and Trade and Industry ministries as its stakeholders, will see its first graduating class in 2011.

"The government believes that these synergies and linkages between medical education, research and clinical care have to be built up and strengthened in order to contribute to the improvement of Singapore's healthcare system, and bring benefits to our people," said the Education Minister.

He said the gift by the estate of the late Khoo Teck Puat was a prime example of a partnership between government, universities and private philanthropy.

"It is thus befitting that the GMS' new signature building on Outram Campus, close to the site of Singapore's first medical school, will be named after him," said the Education Minister.

"When completed in 2009, the new buildings will have state-of-the-art facilities for research and education, with the capacity to house up to 500 researchers, staff, faculty and students."

The estate said it was carrying out the vision of the late Mr Khoo.

"By supporting this initiative, the estate believes that Singapore will be able to build on past and current successes and develop a centre of excellence for education, healthcare and medical research," said Mavie Khoo, the daughter of the late Mr Khoo.

The Graduate Medical School will enrol its first students in August 2007.

The size of the inaugural intake is 25, while subsequent classes will increase to 50. - CNA /ls