Strength, hope and shine: 25 years of singhealth

25 Years of SingHealth

As SingHealth marks its 25th anniversary, three Group CEOs reflect on the vision, leadership and people who transformed a newly formed healthcare cluster into a global Academic Medical Centre.

Laying the groundwork

When SingHealth was formed in 2000, Professor Tan Ser Kiat's greatest challenge was bringing together hospitals, institutions and polyclinics with different backgrounds under one shared vision. By walking the ground and listening to staff, he laid the foundations for trust, unity and a culture that continues to put patients first.

Creating one identity with one shared purpose

Building on that foundation, Professor Ivy Ng strengthened collaboration across the cluster by introducing the vision, Defining Tomorrow's Medicine, alongside a renewed mission centred on patient care, education and innovation. She also advanced SingHealth's Academic Medical Centre through stronger partnerships, research and education.

Continuing to define tomorrow's medicine

Today, Professor Ng Wai Hoe describes SingHealth as a healthcare "triple threat"—bringing together outstanding clinical care, research and education. Looking ahead, he sees greater opportunities in preventive care, artificial intelligence, genomics and impactful research, while ensuring patients remain at the heart of every advancement.

Growing stronger, together

Across three generations of leadership, SingHealth has evolved from bringing together disparate institutions into a global Academic Medical Centre united by one shared purpose. Through stronger collaboration, education, research and innovation, the cluster has continued to redefine what healthcare can be—always with patients and their families at the heart of all it does.

Looking ahead, SingHealth remains committed to transforming care by strengthening preventive and community care, embracing genomics, precision medicine and artificial intelligence, and ensuring research translates into meaningful outcomes for patients. Guided by its 25th anniversary theme of Strength, Hope and Shine, the cluster continues to build on its legacy while defining tomorrow's medicine for Singapore and beyond.

This article was first published on 2 October 2025.

“Whatever we do, we must always put patients and their families at the centre, while providing excellent healthcare. That principle has never changed.”

Professor Tan Ser Kiat

Group CEO, SingHealth (2000-2012)

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25 Years of SingHealth

Laying the groundwork

Creating one identity with one shared purpose

Continuing to define tomorrow's medicine

Growing stronger, together

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