THE Health Ministry has suggested 'a couple of names' as potential candidates to head Ren Ci Hospital and Medicare Centre, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said on Sunday.

But the beleaguered charity's board of directors has the final call on who to pick as its new chief executive officer, he added.

Speaking at a community event in Woodlands, he said: 'The key point is Ren Ci's service should not get disrupted because the patients are still there'.

Ren Ci chairman Chua Thian Poh said last week that the charity was looking for someone with experience running hospitals.

Unlike Ming Yi, the new CEO would draw a salary, which would be determined by the charity and the Health Ministry.

Mr Khaw said: 'The Ren Ci board will form a committee to select and headhunt, but because of the urgency, the Ministry of Health has proposed a couple of names'.

'They are good names, people we trust should be able to run Ren Ci without great difficulty'.

Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times