Key Milestones

Year	Event
2024	Prof Tan Ban Hock received the National Outstanding Clinician Award. Ms Elena Binte Mohamed Ayob, Deputy Director, Nursing, received the President's Award for Nurses 2024.
2023	Prof William Hwang was presented National Outstanding Clinician Award and Prof Julian Thumboo received the National Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award.
2022	Prof Chan Choon Meng received the National Outstanding Clinician Educator Award and Prof Marcus Ong was presented with the National Outstanding Clinician Award.
2021	Prof Tan Hak Koon received the National Outstanding Clinician Educator Award and Assoc Prof Wong Kok Seng was presented with National Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award.
2020	Ms Patricia Yong, Deputy Director, Nursing, received the President's Award for Nurses 2020.
2019	Ms Ang Shin Yuh, Assistant Director of Nursing, received the President's Award for Nurses 2019.
2019	Prof London Lucien Ooi was presented National Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award.
2018	1,000 and counting: SGH reaches milestone in deceased donor kidney transplant
	SGH performs Singapore’s first blood group incompatible living donor liver transplant
	Ms Goh Meh Meh, Deputy Director of Nursing, received the President's Nurse Award 2018.
	Prof Lim Boon Leng was presented National Outstanding Clinician Educator Award.
2016	SGH study found that co-testing programme improves detection rate of cervical cancer
2015	Prof Tan Puay Hoon was presented National Outstanding Clinician Award
	Diabetes & Metabolism Centre began its operations.
	APN Lim Su Fee (Dr), was presented with President Nurses Award
2014	Singapore Scientists Discover Genetic Cause of Common Breast Tumours in Women
2014	SGH received Joint Commission International (JCI) - Academic Medical Center accreditation.
2013	SGH and NTU develops, Mona Lisa, biospy tool to detect prostate cancer
	SGH O&G developes a new procedure to help women in chemotherapy to preserve ovary
	Academia - New iconic building for Diagnostics, Research and Healthcare Education opens officially on SGH Campus
	SGH Transplant Centre began its operations at SGH Block 7, Level 1.
	SGH Autoimmunity & Rheumatology Centre (ARC) began it's operation on 8 May 2013 and is the only centre in the region to provide a one-stop service dedicated to complex rheumatology and autoimmune disorders.
	SGH researchers have found that therapeutic hypothermia when used on patients immediately after resuscitation can reduce chances of death and brain damage.
2012	SGH is first in South East Asia to be able to remove hard-to-reach cancers of the throat, tongue and tonsils using the daVinci robot-assisted surgical system to perform minimally invasive procedures.
	First Simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney Transplant in Singapore
	SGH to start world’s first trial to determine optimal time for delivering electrical shocks to cardiac arrest patients
	A team of doctors in SGH Campus, identified and found a solution to a mutated gene in patients that lessens drug effects, and they can be given other forms of treatment.
	SGH and Duke-NUS to start Singapore’s first trial of an antiviral medicine for treatment of dengue fever.
	A study by O&G doctors, enable the early detection and diagnosis of clear cell ovarian cancer to allow patients to receive specific treatment earlier.
2011	SGH received Joint Commission International (JCI) Re-accreditation.
	SGH and NCCS pioneers new non-invasive treatment for prostate cancer
	Type I diabetes patients is able to manage their diabetes better with a new programme with DAFNE or Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating, first and only in Asia.
	SGH was endorsed by WHO as one of the four Global Hand Hygiene Expert Centre
2010	First Dual-kidney transplant from an older donor
	SGH is the first Magnet ® recognized hospital in Asia
	$20 million clinical research unit, SingHealth Investigational Medicine Unit opens at SGH.
	SGH implemented the world’s first fully integrated Bed Management System with RFID technology enables workflow automation that helps improves waiting time for admissions, capacity and caregiver effectiveness.
2009	SGH Bowyer Block which houses the SGH Museum has been designated a national monument
	SGH and SingHealth launches its first bilingual health newspaper, Singapore Health
	SGH, International SOS and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore sign an agreement to develop emergency and general medical care programmes to upgrade the skills, knowledge and training capabilities of the medical professionals.
	Kidney transplantation from the oldest living donor is performed.
	SGH is the first to implement a new integrated radiology management solution as part of a ten-year commitment between Microsoft and SingHealth to improve patient care through healthcare technology innovation in Singapore.
	SGH and National Heart Centre Singapore jointly performed Asia's first combined heart and liver transplant for a patient with Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy
	SGH, Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel), and HSAGlobal pilot the Community Care Management Solution, an electronic health record and management system that enables remote monitoring of patients and islandwide access to medical records
	The largest hospital-based hyperbaric facility is opened.
	A dedicated centre for interventional radiology is launched.
2008	SGH launched its first integrated centre for lifestyle-related condiions- The Lifestyle Improvement & Fitness Enhancement (LIFE) Centre
2008	A Singapore team led by A/ Prof Xiao Zhi Cheng from SGH makes key Alzheimer's discovery that could eventually lead to a cure for Alzheimer's disease.
2007	SGH launched the first patient newspaper, Outram Now.
	Novalis system, a radiation therapy technique for brain cancer patients is installed at SGH
	Khoo Teck Puat Neuro-Navigation Integrated (KTP-NNI) Operating Suites opens at SGH. It houses a new neuro-science centre, where for the first time, a full range of medical technologies- digitally integrated- will be on tap, from diagnosis through to treatment.
	New three-dimensional imaging scanner, the O-Arm, arrives at SGH, making spinal operations safer at SGH.
	Groundbreaking for new SGH Pathology Building kickstarts the building of state-of-the-art and centralised Pathology services at SGH.
2006	SGH celebrates its 185th Birthday
	SGH launched the Postgraduate Allied Health Institute (PGAHI), Singapore's first postgraduate institute aimed at providing more focused and synergistic development programmes for the advancement and training of allied health professionals.
	The orchid Dendrobium SGH is cultivated to mark SGH’s 185th birthday. Dendrobium SGH symbolizes the Hospital's status as a distinct regional centre of excellence, committed to uphold its slogan of 'A Tradition of Caring and Excellence'
	Senior Nurse Clinician, Tan Siok Bee, was presented with the President's Nurse Award.
2005	SGH achieved Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation. SGH is the largest teaching hospital in Asia to be accorded such a recognition
	SGH achieved Business Continuity Management (BCM) certification.
	The SGH Musuem was officially opened by His Excellency, President S R Nathan on 20 May
2004	Department of Pathology celebrates 100th anniversary
	SGH became first hospital in the region to include Pain as the fifth vital sign
	A centralised Drug and Poison Information Centre (DPIC) is established at SGH
	A/Prof Anantharaman became the first doctor in Asia to be presented with the Fellowship of the International Federation of Emergency Medicine
	SGH achieved OHSAS 180001 Certification
2003	The Department of Pathology received accreditation by College of American Pathologists (CAP)
	Singapore's first Cyclotron installed at SGH
	Establishment of Department of Behavioural Medicine
	Establishment of Department of Rheumatology & Immnuology
	SGH pioneered the Hair Apposition Technique, a new treatment for scalp wounds
	The Dietetics & Nutrition Services Department became the first in-house kitchen in the healthcare industry to achieve the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) certification
	Liver dialysis is introduced for patients suffering from acute liver failure
	A/Prof Ho Lai Yun was presented with the Outstanding Paediatrician for Asia Award by the Association of Paediatric Societies in Southeast Asia Region (APSSEAR)
	SGH wins three Asian Hospital Management Awards
	Dr Ling Ai Ee received the Excellence Award at the 6th Asia Pacific Congress of Medical Virology
2002	A/Prof Patrick Tan was conferred the Excellence for Singapore Award 2002 for his outstanding pioneering efforts and unprecedented achievements in the field of Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant
	World's first modified jaw advancement technique for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in Asians is performed
	Singapore's first case of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar disectomy (PLD) for slipped disc is performed
	SGH wins two Asian Hospital Management Awards
	First Decontamination Centre in Southeast Asia opens at SGH
	Senior Nurse Manager, Lee Seok Pang, was presented with the President's Nurse Award.
2001	SGH celebrates its 180th Birthday
	SGH successfully separated a pair of craniopagus conjoined twins from Nepal in a historical 97-hour long surgery
	SGH performed the world's first case of cord blood transplant for a patient with Thalassaemia Major
	The SGH Team for the Conjoined Twins Separation was conferred the Excellence for Singapore Award 2001
	The world's first two cases of non-myeloablative cord blood transplants were performed, one for a patient with multiple myeloma and the second with acute myeloid leukaemia
	Senior Breast Care Nurse Clinician Saraswathi Nagalingam became one of the two winners of the inaugural President's Nurse Award.
2000	Establishment of SGH ENT Centre
	A combined team from the SGH ENT department and National Dental Centre performed the first bilateral maxillo-mandibular advancement operation in Southeast Asia
	The first lung transplant in Singapore was carried out by a multidisciplinary team from SGH, National Heart Centre and National Cancer Centre
	SGH joined the Singapore Health Services' network of polyclinics, hospitals and national centres, following the major re-organisation of the healthcare services of the nation into two clusters
	SGH is presented with the Public Service Award for Organisational Excellence
	A/Prof Francis Seow-Choen was presented with the Excellence for Singapore Award for his outstanding contributions to the training of international surgeons as well as for seminal research and surgical innovations in the field of colorectal surgery
	Asia's first unicompartmental arthroplasty is performed
	Singapore's first Minimally-invasive Vertebroplasty procedure for relief of backache is performed
	SGH Team performed the world's first procedure of forearm attachment to shoulder blade is performed
1999	SGH celebrates its 10th anniversary of restructuring
	Opening of SGH Life Support Training Centre
	SGH achieved People Developer Standard
	Dr Peter Eng from the Department of Endocrinology received the Knoll Thyroid Research Clinical Fellowship Award at the Annual Meeting of the American Endocrine Society held in June, in San Diego, USA
	Establishment of SGH Haematology Centre
	SGH achieved ISO 14001 certification
	The Department of Renal Medicine and Department of Urology performed SGH's 1,000th kidney transplant
	The first successful case of blastocyst transfer for IVF achieved by Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
	The first human bilateral fetal brain transplanted for Parkinson's Disease in Asia was performed
1998	First stem cell transplant using unrelated cord blood is performed
	SGH launches Evidence-based medicine
	Opening of the new SGH Urology Centre
1997	Establishment of the SGH O&G Centre
	The Institute of Advanced Nursing is established
	SGH became a member of the Singapore Quality Class
	Dr Charles Tsang from the Department of Colorectal Surgery became the first non-American to receive the Carl E Christenson Award as the outstanding Colorectal Resident by the University of Minnesota
	Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is available for the first time in Southeast Asia for the management of tinnitus
1996	Singapore General Hospital celebrates 175 years of service to the nation
	SGH achieved ISO9002 Certification
	Asian Institute of Management conferred its prestigious AIM award on SGH for excelling in operation management.
	Dr Tan Seang Beng from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery became the first surgeon from Asia to win the Hibb's award from the world renowned Scoliosis Research Society
1995	The world's first peripheral blood stem cell transplant from a matched unrelated donor to a Thalassaemia Major patient is carried out
	Singapore Heart Centre is established at SGH
	New Diabetes Centre provides one-stop treatment for the whole range of diabetic problems
	A new endoscopic procedure that has revolutionised the removal of pituitary tumours is introduced
	The two Orthopaedic Departments "C" and "O" are merged
	The three general medical departments reorganised and the Departments of Endocrinology, Gastroenterology and Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine are established
1994	SGH established its Postgraduate Medical Institute
	The SGH Brain Centre is established to integrate the services and programmes of Neurology and Neurosurgery at SGH
	First transplant of a patient with high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (Burkitt's type) using a high dose chemotherapy programme with peripheral stem cell rescue
	Stereotactic radiosurgery is established for the first time in Singapore and ASEAN region
	First paediatric renal transplant is carried out
	First impaction bone grafting revision hip replacement
	First sequential whole lung lavage under general anaesthesia and double lung ventilation performed on a patient with Pulmonary Alveolar Protelnosis, a rare lung disease
1993	New Neurology Department is established
	New services introduced include an Asthma Clinic & Education Centre, Diabetic Foot Clinic and a CAPD (continuous ambulatory percutaneous dialysis) Centre
	SGH is the first hospital in Asia to use virtual reality surgery to successfully remove brain tumours and arteriovenous malformations
	Hand surgeons invented the Ambience Control Device used in post-operative recovery of patients with complicated microvascular reconstruction and replantation surgery
	New surgical speech rehabilitation service is established for post-laryngectomy patients
	Laparoscopic surgery is introduced for paediatric patients
1992	A surgical procedure in vaginal reconstruction devised by Plastic Surgeon Dr Julian Wee and Paediatric Surgeon Dr V T Joseph is termed "The Singapore Flap" and is adopted by doctors at the Mayo Clinic
	The first arrhythmia patient is implanted with an automatic implantable cardioconverter defibrillator which administers electric shock to restore normal heart rhythm
	The first selective rhizotomy for spastic cerebral palsy for the relief of pain or muscle spasm is performed successfully
	The first reported pregnancy in Singapore from the transfer of embryo fertilised by microinjecting microsurgically retrieved epididymal sperm into the ovum
	First successful pregnancy in a kidney patient on dialysis
	First renal transplant involving a diabetic patient
	Establishment of the SGH Urology Centre
	Establishment of the SGH Endoscopy Centre
	Introduction of computer-assisted neurosurgery for brain tumours, haemorrhagic strokes and epilepsy surgery
	The GAMMAMED l2i, one of the most advanced High Dose Rate Afterloading Brachytherapy units is available at SGH
1991	Launch of the Young Investigaror's Award to encourage and recognise research efforts of doctors under 35-years of age
	Department of Medical Oncology is established
	Three new state-of-the-art digital cardiac laboratories are established. Coronary angioplasty at SGH has a success rate of 91 per cent, comparable to results in overseas centres
	SGH is the first hospital in Southeast Asia to provide catheter ablation
	The Development Assessment Clinic is established under the Department of Neonatology
	The first spouse-to-spouse renal transplant is carried out
	The first renal transplant involving a recipient with systemic lupus erythematosus is carried out
	The Department of Plastic Surgery successfully uses cultured skin on two burns patients in a pilot study
1990	Singapore's first heart transplant is performed
	SGH's first successful pregnancy achieved through ovum donation
	First successful pregnancy in Asia achieved through surgical sperm retrieval
	Asia's first percutaneous endoscopic cholecystectomy, the removal of gall bladder using an endoscope, is performed
	SGH is the first hospital to launch an Annual Scientific Meeting
1989	SGH is the first government hospital to be restructured
	Department of Colorectal Surgery is established
	The Department of Clinical Research is set up to provide facilities and key personnel to guide and assist clinicians in laboratory-based research
	The Oncology Centre is established at SGH to cater to the needs of cancer patients
	The Department of Cardiology is the first in Singapore to introduce transoesophageal echo doppler studies
	ENT surgeons perform the first cochlear implant surgery (which gives hearing to the profoundly deaf) in Southeast Asia
	Laser Lithotripsy is introduced for treatment of ureteric stones
	Department of Colorectal Surgery is the first in the region to provide anorectal physiology measurements for patients with colorectal problems
1988	SGH is the first hospital in Southeast Asia to provide cardiac arrhythmia surgery which corrects the abnormality in the rhythm of the heart
1988	Department of Urology is established
1986	New departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Neonatology are established
1986	Prenatal diagnosis of Thalassaemia is available for the first time in Singapore with the introduction of in-utero fetal sampling
1985	The new Department of Haematology is formed. The adult Bone Marrow Transplant programme is introduced
	Hand Surgery Department is established
	Cardiology Department embarks successfully on percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography (PTCA), a balloon procedure to open an obstruction or narrowing of a blood vessel
1984	Department of Nuclear Medicine gets its first gamma camera with microprocessor facilities
1983	A paediatric bone marrow transplant programme is established
	SGH is the first public hospital to acquire a CT scanner - its diagnostic accuracy brings about a quantum leap in the practice of radiology
	ENT surgeons perform the first laser surgery using carbon dioxide laser
1982	Establishment of coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) programme
1982	First total knee replacement operation is performed
1981	The new Singapore General Hospital is opened by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew
	The Departments of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery are transferred back to SGH from TTSH
	Paediatric Surgery is established as a separate department
	Three linear accelerators are commissioned enabling the hospital to provide quality care for patients requiring radiotherapy
1980	First toe to thumb transplant is performed
1980	Department of Nuclear Medicine is established
1978	The Accident & Emergency Department handles its first mass casualty disaster when a Greek tanker, Spyros, explodes and leaves 68 victims suffering from serious burns and blast injuries
1977	Orthopaedic surgeons perform microvascular surgery - 23 reattachments are performed with 80 per cent success rate
1976	The living-related donor transplant programme is successful with the first two living-related renal transplants carried out
1975	Surgical Intensive Care Unit opens
1975	Establishment of Self Dependency Dialysis Unit
1974	The Emergency Unit is redesignated as the Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department
	A Gastroendoscopic Service is started
	A Paediatric Surgery Unit is established under Department of Surgery
1973	Renal Unit becomes the Department of Renal Medicine
1972	The new Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Department opens
1970	A Committee on Medical Specialisation is appointed by the government to make recommendations for development of medical specialties A 10-bed Dialysis Unit is set up
1970	Singapore's first renal transplant is performed
1969	Hospital charges are introduced for C class wards
1968	First two patients with chronic renal failure are started on regular haemodialysis Department of Radiology is divided into two separate departments - Diagnostic Radiology and Radiotherapy
1968	The Hospital is renamed Outram Road General Hospital
1967	Coronary Care Unit is established
1965	A third medical unit is set up
1965	First open heart surgery is performed
1964	A new Emergency Unit opens
1964	A radioisotope laboratory is established
1963	First five honorary Consultants appointed. They are Dr B H Sheares, Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng, Dr Seow Li Jin, Prof E S Monteiro and Dr Robert C K Loh
1963	First cardiac laboratory set up
1961	Renal Unit is established
1960	First open-heart surgery under hypothermia is performed
1959	First closed heart surgery is performed
1958	Oral Sabin vaccine is successful against the polio epidemic
1958	The new Burns Unit is completed
1957	ENT established as a specialty department
1956	Second orthopaedic department is established
1955	Carotid angiography used for the first time
1955	Mistri Wing opens and two paediatric units move in
1954	Electroencephalography (EEG) is introduced
1951	ENT Unit is established under Surgical Unit B
1951	Orthopaedic Surgery is recognised as a specialty
1948	Casualty & Outpatient Services set up
1947	The Unit System is introduced and instituted in all wards, classifying patients according to illnesses, rather than economic status
1946	The Upper, Middle and Lower Blocks are renamed Bowyer, Stanley and Norris Blocks respectively, in memory of long-serving doctors who died during the war
1946	The maternity wing of the Hospital is transferred to Kandang Kerbau Hospital
1942	SGH is occupied by the Japanese Army
1934	Ophthalmology (the first specialty department) set up
1930	Blood Transfusion Service established under Pathology division
1929	Portable machine for electrocardiography (ECG) introduced
1926	Singapore General Hospital at Sepoy Lines is opened by Governor Sir Lawrence Guillemard. It is the seventh in the line of General Hospitals
1913	X-rays introduced into hospital practice
1907	First specialist appointment - Pathologist
1905	First medical school opens at Sepoy Lines
1898	First x-ray machine arrives in Singapore, but it is located in the Municipal Office, not the Hospital
1882	Sixth General Hospital opens at Sepoy Lines
1860	Fifth General Hospital opens at the Kandang Kerbau district
1845	Fourth General Hospital (also known as Seamen's Hospital) receives its first patient
1828	Third General Hospital opens
1822	Second General Hospital opens
1821	The first General Hospital opens