50 Years of Cancer Registration

The Singapore Cancer Registry began its work 50 years ago, under the exacting eye of Emeritus Professor Kanagaratham Shanmugaratnam. A pathologist by training, Prof Shanmugaratnam was world-renowned for his knowledge and understanding of the tiny cells he saw under a microscope. This acuity was not just for the very small, but for the world of public health at large.

Working with epidemiologists, he started and grew what has become Singapore’s longest running disease registry, setting the foundations for monitoring cancer trends, conducting clinical research, guiding health policy and maximising the efficient allocation of resources. To commemorate the 50th anniversary, the 2019 Cancer Monograph includes a tribute to its founding father and a history of the Registry’s growth.