Milestones | National Cancer Centre Singapore

2024

Goh Cheng Liang Proton Therapy Centre at NCCS celebrates its first anniversary with the unveiling of the Goh Cheng Liang Recognition Wall.
Hosts the 62nd Annual Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group Conference in Singapore, which was attended by more than 1,200 international experts from 42 countries.
Ranks 6th amongst Asia Pacific’s 100 specialised hospitals and institutions, and the only institution from South East Asia in the Top 10, in Newsweek’s Best Specialized Hospitals Asia Pacific 2024 (Oncology). And receives special mention in World’s Best Hospitals 2024 Newsweek Ranking, ranking 68th amongst the 300 World’s Best Specialized Hospitals for Oncology.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam officially opens the NCCS – Singapore Cancer Society Rehabilitation Centre on 1 June 2024 to offer clinical and rehabilitation services to newly diagnosed patients and those who have completed treatments.
Operating Theatres officially opens, unlocking new opportunities for comprehensive cancer care under one roof.
Official opening of Operating Theatres in new NCCS, bringing comprehensive cancer care under one roof.
NCCS celebrates 25th anniversary advancing cancer care and serving the community.

2023

Prof William Hwang hands over the leadership reins to Prof Lim Soon Thye, who is appointed Chief Executive Officer of NCCS on 1 December 2023.
The Goh Cheng Liang Proton Therapy Centre at NCCS has been granted its operating license and treats its first patient on 27 June 2023.
NCCS ranks 9th amongst Asia Pacific’s top cancer hospitals and institutions, and the only one in South East Asia in the Top 10, in Newsweek’s Best Specialized Hospitals Asia Pacific 2023 (Oncology).
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr Lawrence Wong officially opens the new National Cancer Centre Singapore on 18 May 2023.

2022

The first Specialist Oncology Clinic, SOC 14F starts operations in the new 24-storey National Cancer Centre Singapore building.
NCCS ranks 58 amongst the world’s top cancer hospitals and institutions, and the only one in South East Asia in the Top 100, in Newsweek’s World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2023. NCCS Oncology Clinic @ Changi General Hospital ranks 152.

2021

Chief Executive Officer, Prof William Hwang is elected Regional Vice-President Elect, Asia, for the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT).
Selected to host the 62nd Annual Conference of the Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group (PTCOG) in 2024.
Professor Rebecca Dent, Chairman and Senior Consultant, Division of Medical Oncology, receives the prestigious European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Women in Oncology Award, recognising her outstanding commitment to oncology and her devotion to mentoring other women with careers in oncology. Prof Dent is the first oncologist from Singapore to receive this award.

2020

Dr Alice Chua Foong Sin, receives the President's Award for Nurses , the highest accolade in Singapore’s nursing profession. This national award recognises nurses who have shown sustained outstanding performance and contributions to patient care delivery, education, research and administration.

2019

NCCS and Singapore Cancer Society sign a partnership agreement to provide holistic and seamless cancer support and intensify upstream prevention.
Prof Teh Bin Tean speaks at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Plenary Lectureship. Only scientists who are world authorities in their fields are invited to give plenary talks at this event.
Sets the first national record in the Singapore Book of Records for the number of steps achieved on stepper machines, in support of adolescents and young adults (AYA) cancer patients.

2018

The NCCS Oncology @ SKH is launched to bring cancer treatment closer to patients living in the north-eastern sector of Singapore.

2017

Founding Director, Prof Soo Khee Chee retires as Director of NCCS on 26 November 2017 and hands over the reins to Prof William Hwang Ying Khee, who is appointed Chief Executive Officer of NCCS.
Leads first-in-the-world liver cancer clinical trial to pioneer a treatment strategy that combines an immunotherapy drug with radioembolisation.
Ground-breaking ceremony for the New NCCS Building. The new comprehensive proton therapy facility, named the Goh Cheng Liang Proton Therapy Centre, will be located in the basement level of the new NCCS building.

2016

Hitachi Asia Ltd is awarded to provide the Proton Beam Therapy System for the Goh Cheng Liang Proton Therapy Centre.

2015

Wins Service Excellence Medallion Award - the first healthcare institution in Singapore to receive this award.

2014

Collaborates with Clearbridge BioMedics, together with the Pathology Department of the Singapore General Hospital, to set up region’s first Circulating Tumour Cell Centre of Research Excellence (CTC CoRE).
Receives $50 million donation from the Goh Foundation to set up the new Proton Beam Treatment Centre and for proton-related cancer treatment and research.

2013

Launches NCCS Oncology Clinic @ CGH to bring cancer treatment closer to patients living in eastern Singapore.
Ms Chua Gek Pin, Director of Nursing receives the President's Award for Nurses, the highest national accolade in Singapore’s nursing profession.

2012

Introduces Intraoperative Radiotherapy (IORT) for breast cancer patients.

2011

Opens Centre for Peritoneal and Pelvic Cancers.
Partners Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (UK) and Van Andel Research Institute (USA), leading to the discovery of a new gene that is mutated in one out of three cancer patients with renal cancers.
Department of Medical Oncology introduces a comprehensive geriatric assessment for elderly patients with colorectal, lung and genitourinary cancers to assess their suitability for treatment.
Department of Surgical Oncology introduces the Breast Cancer Survivorship Programme, which enables survivors to receive comprehensive disease surveillance assistance from Advanced Practitioner Nurses.

2010

Receives accreditation from the Joint Commission International (JCI). It is the only national cancer centre in the region to be recognised for healthcare standards, patient safety and clinical governance.

2008

Introduces Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), a new technique that enhances cancer control with fewer side effects.
Partners Four Seasons Hotel Singapore and The Regent Singapore for the inaugural launch of the annual Run For Hope to raise funds for cancer research.
Minister for Health Mr Khaw Boon Wan opens Lien Centre for Palliative Care.

2007

Establishes Geriatric Oncology Programme.
Signs an international collaboration agreement formalising an alliance to customise Asian patients’ cancer drug response, with the Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) based in Michigan, USA.
Establishes Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research (HOICR).

2006

Acquires a 64-slice Multi-Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) to enable early detection and treatment of cancer.
Leads Singapore’s first bench-to-bedside Dendritic Cell Vaccine trial that produces encouraging results for advanced colon cancer patients.
Establishes the Health Professionals and Undergraduates (HPU) Education Unit to provide training opportunities for medical students to learn from veteran medical staff and clinicians.

2005

Signs a landmark agreement with eight Asian National Cancer Centres to collectively embark on cancer prevention advocacy, cancer research, training, as well as collaboration, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Partners Children’s Cancer Foundation and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital for research on rhabdomyosarcoma, a fast growing malignant tumour that affects children.

2004

Pioneers a new technique, Photodynamic Diagnosis and Treatment (PDT) that uses fluorescence diagnosis and drug-induced light therapy to diagnose and treat cancer.

2003

Plays a key role in the national crisis management of SARS.

2002

Division of Radiation Oncology introduces Singapore’s first Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) treatment to improve tumour coverage and decrease side effects of treatment.

2001

Establishes Department of Psychosocial Oncology.

2000

Official opening of NCCS by Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Health.
NCCS commences operations at 11 Hospital Crescent on SGH Campus.
Becomes part of Singapore Health Services (SingHealth), one of two public healthcare clusters.
Establishes Mammography Suite.