The founder and CEO of Singapore Pain Care, Dr. Bernard Lee, shared his entrepreneurial and medical journey with CNA938 Made in SG with Melanie Oliveiro, discussing both his personal motivations and the trends in pain management as Singapore moves toward super-aged status.
Dr. Lee’s passion for pain medicine was deeply personal. His father suffered from lung cancer and endured significant pain despite treatment. At the time, Dr. Lee was an anesthesiologist and believed he could help, but he quickly realized that cancer and degenerative pain were far more complex than surgical pain management. Watching his father suffer sparked a determination to specialise in pain medicine. After completing his anesthesia fellowship, Dr. Lee sub-specialised in pain, training overseas before returning to Singapore to become one of the country’s first pain specialists.
Establishing Singapore Paincare was a challenging journey. There was no existing system, framework, or network for pain medicine in Singapore at the time. Dr. Lee faced skepticism from peers, supervisors, and friends, and had to create everything from scratch, including manpower and procedural protocols. Clinical work, while demanding, was comparatively easier because patients were already being referred to him by other doctors who felt their cases were too complex. Dr. Lee described seeing long waiting times of up to six months, and through these experiences, he developed his own methodologies, including specialised injection treatments named Myospan and Neurospan.
Dr. Lee has treated tens of thousands of patients over the years, covering a wide spectrum of pain from mild discomfort to extreme chronic conditions. Some pain is straightforward, while others are what he calls “weird and wonderful,” such as migraines or fibromyalgia, where conventional tests show no abnormalities. He emphasised that many patients are misinformed that their pain is simply due to aging or that it is “all in their head.” Singapore Paincare focuses on accurate diagnosis, prognostication, and tailored treatment plans, often serving as the last stop for patients who have exhausted other options.
Regarding psychological pain, Dr. Lee explained that it accounts for less than 5% of cases. While stress, work pressures, and anxiety can worsen pre-existing pain conditions, they are rarely the primary cause. Understanding this distinction is critical to effective treatment.
Looking ahead, Dr. Lee highlighted the implications of Singapore’s ageing population. With the government implementing programs such as the Age Well SG, he noted that chronic pain among seniors remains a pressing concern. His work continues to focus on providing comprehensive, effective pain management solutions to improve quality of life for patients across all age groups.
Catch the full interview to learn more about his vision for helping patients live pain-free: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/listen/cna938-rewind/singapore-paincares-dr-bernard-lee-building-medical-practice-scratch-5328766