History of SCCPS
Inception & Foundation
Dr Ellis Pixley of Australia introduces colposcopy to Singapore at Kandang Kerbau Hospital (KKH), kindling local interest in cervical cancer prevention.
A/Prof Ho Tew Hong returns from advanced colposcopy training under Prof Malcolm Coppleson in Sydney, Australia, catalysing a new wave of interest in colposcopy at KKH and laying the groundwork for the Society's formation.
April
The 1st national workshop on colposcopy, cervical pathology, and the role of CO2 laser treatment is held at KKH featuring Prof Albert Singer. This is also the first use of CO2 laser to treat pre-invasive disease of the lower genital tract in Singapore.
April
A protem committee is formed to oversee the establishment of the Society, with A/Prof Ho Tew Hong drafting the constitution with advice from Dr William Channen of Melbourne.
February
The Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Cytology of Singapore is officially gazetted. The draft constitution is written by Dr Ho Tew Hong with invaluable advice from Dr William Channen from Australia.
February
The inaugural general meeting convenes 61 founding members at KKH. Dr Lawrence Chan and Dr Ho Tew Hong are elected as the founding President & Vice-President respectively. Inaugural council members include Dr Koh Cheng Huat, Dr Kee Wei Heong, Dr A Ilancheran, Dr Tay Sun Kuie, Dr Ching Kwok Choy, Dr Pritam Singh, Dr Yam Kwai Lam, Dr Chew Sek Yuen and Dr Lim Tan Soo Kim.
May
SCCPS is formally admitted to the International Federation of Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy (IFCPC) at the IFCPC General Assembly in Chicago.
May
Prof Malcolm Coppleson from Australia delivers the first SCCPS Annual Oration at Omni Marco Polo Hotel in honour of Dr Ellis Pixley. The lecture is entitled "Cervical Cancer: Promises, Problems and Prospects."
March
The inaugural Annual Colposcopy Course — titled the Singapore–Sheffield Basic & Advanced Colposcopy Course — is held at KKH. The keynote speaker Prof Frank Sharp from Sheffield, UK delivers a landmark lecture on premalignant glandular lesions of the cervix. The official SCCPS logo, created by a patient of A/Prof Ho Tew Hong, is also selected.
Dr Ellis Pixley of Australia introduces colposcopy to Singapore at Kandang Kerbau Hospital (KKH), kindling local interest in cervical cancer prevention.
A/Prof Ho Tew Hong returns from advanced colposcopy training under Prof Malcolm Coppleson in Sydney, Australia, catalysing a new wave of interest in colposcopy at KKH and laying the groundwork for the Society's formation.
April
The 1st national workshop on colposcopy, cervical pathology, and the role of CO2 laser treatment is held at KKH featuring Prof Albert Singer. This is also the first use of CO2 laser to treat pre-invasive disease of the lower genital tract in Singapore.
April
A protem committee is formed to oversee the establishment of the Society, with A/Prof Ho Tew Hong drafting the constitution with advice from Dr William Channen of Melbourne.
February
The Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Cytology of Singapore is officially gazetted. The draft constitution is written by Dr Ho Tew Hong with invaluable advice from Dr William Channen from Australia.
February
The inaugural general meeting convenes 61 founding members at KKH. Dr Lawrence Chan and Dr Ho Tew Hong are elected as the founding President & Vice-President respectively. Inaugural council members include Dr Koh Cheng Huat, Dr Kee Wei Heong, Dr A Ilancheran, Dr Tay Sun Kuie, Dr Ching Kwok Choy, Dr Pritam Singh, Dr Yam Kwai Lam, Dr Chew Sek Yuen and Dr Lim Tan Soo Kim.
May
SCCPS is formally admitted to the International Federation of Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy (IFCPC) at the IFCPC General Assembly in Chicago.
May
Prof Malcolm Coppleson from Australia delivers the first SCCPS Annual Oration at Omni Marco Polo Hotel in honour of Dr Ellis Pixley. The lecture is entitled "Cervical Cancer: Promises, Problems and Prospects."
March
The inaugural Annual Colposcopy Course — titled the Singapore–Sheffield Basic & Advanced Colposcopy Course — is held at KKH. The keynote speaker Prof Frank Sharp from Sheffield, UK delivers a landmark lecture on premalignant glandular lesions of the cervix. The official SCCPS logo, created by a patient of A/Prof Ho Tew Hong, is also selected.
Developing Standards & Global Outreach
SCCPS, in partnership with Health Promotion Board (HPB), publishes the 1st Edition of the Management Guidelines for Cervical Screening & Pre-Invasive Disease of the Cervix, establishing national protocols for Pap smear screening and management of abnormal results.
The National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme is launched in Singapore, providing a structured national framework for population-level cervical screening.
Under President A/Prof Jeffrey Low, SCCPS extends its outreach internationally by collaborating with WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to support cervical cancer screening & collaborative workshop in South India.
The SCCPS' Structured Colposcopy Training Programme is formally incorporated into the Obstetrics & Gynaecology National Training Programme as a core competency in specialist postgraduate training.
Dr Quek Swee Chong launches the Himalayan Women's Health Project in Ladakh, India. This humanitarian initiative, supported by SCCPS and international collaborators, brought cervical cancer prevention to women in this remote mountainous region and has evolved into a long-standing effort spanning nearly two decades.
SCCPS leads the launch of the Power Over Cervical Cancer (POCC) campaign — a national consumer awareness initiative reaching women through media, schools, social platforms, and community events. Launched by then-MP Halimah Yacob, the campaign engaged celebrity ambassadors and grassroot leaders to promote screening uptake. This multimodal campaign carries on between 2010 & 2013
SCCPS, in partnership with Health Promotion Board (HPB), publishes the 1st Edition of the Management Guidelines for Cervical Screening & Pre-Invasive Disease of the Cervix, establishing national protocols for Pap smear screening and management of abnormal results.
The National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme is launched in Singapore, providing a structured national framework for population-level cervical screening.
Under President A/Prof Jeffrey Low, SCCPS extends its outreach internationally by collaborating with WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to support cervical cancer screening & collaborative workshop in South India.
The SCCPS' Structured Colposcopy Training Programme is formally incorporated into the Obstetrics & Gynaecology National Training Programme as a core competency in specialist postgraduate training.
Dr Quek Swee Chong launches the Himalayan Women's Health Project in Ladakh, India. This humanitarian initiative, supported by SCCPS and international collaborators, brought cervical cancer prevention to women in this remote mountainous region and has evolved into a long-standing effort spanning nearly two decades.
SCCPS leads the launch of the Power Over Cervical Cancer (POCC) campaign — a national consumer awareness initiative reaching women through media, schools, social platforms, and community events. Launched by then-MP Halimah Yacob, the campaign engaged celebrity ambassadors and grassroot leaders to promote screening uptake. This multimodal campaign carries on between 2010 & 2013
Incorporating HPV-based Strategies
November
The bivalent HPV vaccine (Cervarix®) is included in Singapore's National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS), recommended for girls aged 9 to 26 years.
March
SCCPS issues the 1st joint statement with the Obstetrical & Gynaecological Society of Singapore (OGSS) and College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, Singapore (COGS) supporting HPV vaccination and advising on eligibility and dosage. This is later updated in Oct 2025.
August
SCCPS co-organises the 2016 Asia-Oceania Research Organisation on Genital Infections and Neoplasia (AOGIN) Congress with OGSS at Conrad Centennial Hotel with the theme "New Frontiers in Cervical Cancer Prevention". AOGIN is a FIGO-affiliated regional body focusing on HPV-related disease prevention and research.
The bivalent and quadrivalent (Gardasil-4®) HPV vaccine is included in the National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS) for adult women.
February
The 2nd Edition of the Cervical Screening & Pre-Invasive Disease Guidelines is launched. Singapore becomes an early adopter of primary HPV DNA testing for cervical cancer screening, also aligned with IFCPC 2011 international terminology standards.
March
Under President Dr Joseph Ng, SCCPS supports the launch of the "Helping Our Helpers" initiative in collaboration with KKWCH, NUH, Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics, and Roche Diagnostics to extend cervical cancer screening to foreign domestic workers.
April
The bivalent HPV vaccine is administered to Secondary 1 girls in Singapore as part of a national, fully-funded, school-based programme.
November
The bivalent HPV vaccine (Cervarix®) is included in Singapore's National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS), recommended for girls aged 9 to 26 years.
March
SCCPS issues the 1st joint statement with the Obstetrical & Gynaecological Society of Singapore (OGSS) and College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, Singapore (COGS) supporting HPV vaccination and advising on eligibility and dosage. This is later updated in Oct 2025.
August
SCCPS co-organises the 2016 Asia-Oceania Research Organisation on Genital Infections and Neoplasia (AOGIN) Congress with OGSS at Conrad Centennial Hotel with the theme "New Frontiers in Cervical Cancer Prevention". AOGIN is a FIGO-affiliated regional body focusing on HPV-related disease prevention and research.
The bivalent and quadrivalent (Gardasil-4®) HPV vaccine is included in the National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS) for adult women.
February
The 2nd Edition of the Cervical Screening & Pre-Invasive Disease Guidelines is launched. Singapore becomes an early adopter of primary HPV DNA testing for cervical cancer screening, also aligned with IFCPC 2011 international terminology standards.
March
Under President Dr Joseph Ng, SCCPS supports the launch of the "Helping Our Helpers" initiative in collaboration with KKWCH, NUH, Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics, and Roche Diagnostics to extend cervical cancer screening to foreign domestic workers.
April
The bivalent HPV vaccine is administered to Secondary 1 girls in Singapore as part of a national, fully-funded, school-based programme.
Towards Cervical Cancer Elimination
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, SCCPS adapts by continuing educational activities online. Annual scientific meetings, colposcopy workshops, and masterclasses are conducted via virtual platforms to ensure continued professional training despite disruptions.
March
SCCPS issues a position statement endorsing HPV self-sampling as a valid screening alternative.
March
The 3rd Edition of the Cervical Screening & Pre-Invasive Disease Guidelines highlights HPV self-sampling as a suitable alternative, along with updates to vaccination strategies and screening in immunocompromised women — keeping Singapore in step with the WHO's global strategy for cervical cancer elimination (90-70-90 targets by 2030).
October
Dr Ida Ismail-Pratt, President of SCCPS, is appointed to the Board of the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS), strengthening Singapore's representation in global HPV prevention efforts.
March
SCCPS conducts the first Annual Colposcopy Workshop to receive International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) endorsement, aligning it with global training standards.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, SCCPS adapts by continuing educational activities online. Annual scientific meetings, colposcopy workshops, and masterclasses are conducted via virtual platforms to ensure continued professional training despite disruptions.
March
SCCPS issues a position statement endorsing HPV self-sampling as a valid screening alternative.
March
The 3rd Edition of the Cervical Screening & Pre-Invasive Disease Guidelines highlights HPV self-sampling as a suitable alternative, along with updates to vaccination strategies and screening in immunocompromised women — keeping Singapore in step with the WHO's global strategy for cervical cancer elimination (90-70-90 targets by 2030).
October
Dr Ida Ismail-Pratt, President of SCCPS, is appointed to the Board of the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS), strengthening Singapore's representation in global HPV prevention efforts.
March
SCCPS conducts the first Annual Colposcopy Workshop to receive International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) endorsement, aligning it with global training standards.