Revolutionising ASEAN Healthcare: One License at a Time

Meet Kevin: The Healthcare Visionary

Mr Kevin Ben Laurence (Class of ’11) is an alumnus whose remarkable journey exemplifies leadership, entrepreneurship and a deep commitment to advancing pharmaceutical care in the ASEAN region. As the first and only pharmacist that is concurrently licensed in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, he showcases his passion in transforming the healthcare landscape across nations and inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.

His professional journey

After completing his pre-registration at Guardian Health and Beauty, Kevin pursued his interests in sales and marketing at Servier (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. In 2014, Kevin joined Mitsui & Co. (Global Fortune 500) as an Investment Lead where he and his team managed a healthcare portfolio worth over USD 6 billion, encompassing globally renowned organizations such as IHH Healthcare (Mount Elizabeth Hospitals etc), Columbia Asia Hospital, DaVita Asia, Ascensia Diabetes Care, International Medical University, OLIC Thailand and many more. His work involved evaluating investment opportunities, conducting market research and formulating strategies to optimise operations and returns. His experiences laid the foundation for his future ventures: SingMed and Lauten International. 

The infographic below showcases some key milestones in Kevin’s journey as well as the various leadership positions that Kevin holds in pharmacy professional societies.

Triple-licensing quest to impact regional healthcare

Aside from all his accomplishments in entrepreneurship, Kevin is also the first pharmacist in ASEAN to be licensed in three countries – Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. In addition, he also holds the prestigious Board Certified Medication Therapy Management Specialist (BCMTMS) title from the National Board of Medication Therapy Management (USA).

Kevin’s motivation for pursuing triple licensure stemmed from observing the complex dynamics of medical tourism in the region, where patients frequently travel across borders between Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia to seek healthcare services. With the three licences and knowledge that he has gained, he feels that he would be able to understand the patients’ condition in their local country of origin better and advise them accordingly so that they will be able to make a well-informed decision before seeking treatment in another country. Medical tourism can be beneficial for patients if done correctly. Otherwise, it would be a waste of their efforts and resources.

Kevin’s commitment to improving healthcare systems is also evident in his recent contributions to the Singapore Healthcare System. As the director of the FIP Foundation for Education and Research (Singapore/Indonesia/Malaysia), he commissioned a project in collaboration with Duke-NUS Medical School to simplify medication instructions using pictograms. This initiative, which is currently implemented in Woodlands Health, introduces visual aids to clarify medication instructions, transcend language barriers and address the challenges faced by patients, particularly seniors, in understanding complex prescriptions. Overall, the project aims to improve medication adherence and care outcomes.

Kevin’s passion for pharmacy practice extends beyond patient care. With his transborder licenses, he actively contributes to the profession through organizing and speaking at seminars and talks for healthcare professionals in Indonesia, and workshops for pharmacy students in Malaysia, empowering the next generation of healthcare leaders with knowledge and motivation. In Singapore, Kevin has been serving as a mentor in the NUS Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences INSPIRxE Alumni Mentorship Programme for 4 years. He also mentored students through the NUS Uplift Mentorship Programme 2023.

Through these initiatives, Kevin shares his vision of a more interconnected healthcare system where pharmacists play a crucial role in cross-border care so that patients can receive seamless and high-quality care across countries. His efforts inspire students, professionals, and patients alike.

Entrepreneurship: healthcare excellence meets business expertise

In 2019, Kevin returned to his birth country, Indonesia, to help with his family business and venture into entrepreneurship. Recognizing the growing needs of good quality healthcare in Indonesia, Kevin founded SingMed (https://www.singmed.org/) at the end of 2021, a medical clinic in Jakarta dedicated to delivering international standards of healthcare services. It is the first clinic in Indonesia that houses a team of multi-accredited healthcare professionals. SingMed offers a variety of health services and their pharmacy services have also partnered our own local clinical services in Singapore like iRx Clinical Pharmacy and Glovida-Rx, providing medication therapy management and general medical consultations.

Expanding on his entrepreneurial pursuits, his passion for healthcare innovation saw the launch of his own boutique consulting firm, Lauten international (https://www.lauten.biz/) in 2022. The firm focuses on providing tailored solutions, leveraging on Kevin’s extensive experience in healthcare investments, risk management and strategic planning. They serve high-profile clients such as Marubeni Corporation (Global Fortune 500), MIMS Pte Ltd and Roland Berger.

These ventures underscore his dedication to improving healthcare systems while empowering businesses with strategic solutions across ASEAN.

Lessons learnt on the path to success

For Kevin, success lies in doing what he enjoys. As he reflects on his journey, despite numerous obstacles along the way, he viewed them as merely prerequisites and essential steps towards serving better as he shares the following sentiment:

His motivation to connect the world, and desire to advance the profession and inspire the next generation of healthcare leaders has fuelled his active participation and leadership in various pharmacy organizations and societies such as the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore (PSS) and Association of Indonesia Pharmacy Professionals/ Persatuan Ahli Farmasi Indonesia (PAFI). He also served as the Chairperson of the 33rd Singapore Pharmacy Congress 2024.

Kevin shared his secret on juggling work, business, services and family: “Get enough sleep – you need it!”.

Finally, when asked to define his #PassionPridePurpose, Kevin articulated a vision that reflects his commitment to making a difference:

This statement reflects his dedication to not only achieving personal success, but to also create a legacy that uplifts others. His path taught him that true leadership lies in resilience, fostering connections and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth.

By staying grounded and focused on serving others, he has become a beacon of inspiration for both the healthcare community and future leaders seeking to make a difference.

Passing inspirations

Kevin concludes his journey’s reflection with an inspirational quote:

For Kevin, this quote embodies the courage and determination required to step into uncharted territories. It reminds him that success often lies beyond comfort zones, where innovation, resilience, and hard work converge. This quote serves as a guiding principle for his work and is a source of inspiration for aspiring healthcare leaders to also take bold steps toward their goals.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Kevin Ben Laurence for generously sharing his incredible journey, achievements, and insights with us. His passion, dedication, and visionary leadership in advancing healthcare across ASEAN have been truly inspiring. We extend our heartfelt congratulations and wish Kevin continued success in all his endeavours and look forward to seeing even greater milestones in the future!

Article by NUSPS Awareness Committee – Chong Zi Hao Joe (Year 2 Pharmacy), Sham Jo Yee (Year 2 Pharmacy), Renay Lim Ying Xuan (Year 2 Pharmacy)

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