Mr Gan Kim Yong is the current Health Minister.  He took office in May 2011 after being re-elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Chua Chu Kang GRC.

He helmed the Ministry of Manpower from April 2008 till 21 May 2011.  In the 2009 economic recession, Mr Gan helped save jobs and minimise retrenchments through concerted efforts with industry partners.  Under his charge, the Ministry of Manpower stepped up efforts on productivity improvements to enhance the quality of our workforce.  Mr Gan has been instrumental in overseeing and developing manpower policies to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing business environment in Singapore, these include the introduction of CPF LIFE, reemployment legislation which will take effect by 2012, and the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR) under the tripartite partnership.  Mr Gan played a critical role in building a first class Continuing Education and Training (CET) system for a globally competitive Singapore workforce.

He also led national committees such as the Tripartite Committee on Employability of Older Workers and the Tripartite Panel on Community Engagement at Workplaces.  Mr Gan also served as Advisor of the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices and was a member of the Economic Strategies Committee.

Mr Gan entered politics in 2001 and was elected as MP for Holland-Bukit Panjang GRC.  In 2006, he was re-elected as MP to serve in the Chua Chu Kang SMC.  Mr Gan was appointed Minister of State for Education and Minister of State for Manpower concurrently in 2005.  He was promoted to Acting Minister for Manpower in April 2008, and took on his role as full Minister in April 2009.

He was awarded the Overseas Merit Scholarship to read Engineering in Cambridge University and graduated with a Bachelor degree (Honours) in 1981.  Mr Gan subsequently obtained his Master’s Degree from Cambridge University in 1985.

He joined the Administrative Service and worked at the Ministry of Trade & Industry and Ministry of Home Affairs.  In 1989, Mr Gan left the Administrative Service for the private sector and joined NatSteel Ltd as a manager for Corporate Planning.  He was promoted to Executive Vice President of NatSteel and CEO of NatSteel Resorts International and NatSteel Properties in 1996.   He became the CEO and President of NatSteel in 2005.

Mr Gan was born in 1959.  He is married with two daughters.