Singapore General Hospital (SGH) has unveiled a Centre of Excellence for robotic-assisted surgery, in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson MedTech, to equip orthopaedic surgeons with cutting-edge skills as the region’s population ages. This initiative, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding, focuses initially on total knee replacement training and research.
The Centre will serve as a primary training hub for surgeons across Southeast Asia, offering comprehensive programmes and regional preceptorship sessions. Professor Tan Mann Hong, Chairman of the Division of Musculoskeletal Sciences at SGH, highlighted the collaboration’s role in establishing Singapore as a leader in advanced surgical training, enhancing regional surgical standards.
Recent research by SGH’s Associate Professor Lincoln Liow demonstrated the benefits of robotic-assisted surgery, showing shorter surgical durations and improved patient outcomes compared to conventional methods. The study was presented at the SICOT 2025 conference in Madrid.
With SGH performing over 2,500 knee replacements annually, demand is expected to rise significantly. Associate Professor Darren Tay emphasised the importance of patient-centred care, stating that surgeons must understand both conventional and cutting-edge options to deliver necessary care. The MoU was signed on 30 September 2025.
