
The National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore is a leading academic health system. It is the country's only public and not-for-profit hospital that provides care for adults, women, and children under one roof. NUH was originally known as the Kent Ridge Hospital and was the first privately run, government-owned hospital under the ownership of Temasek Holdings, a government investment holding company. The hospital was constructed at a cost of $193 million, with an initial projection of 752 beds, and was completed in 1984. NUH opened its doors to patients on June 24, 1985, and was officially inaugurated on June 17, 1986, by Goh Chok Tong, then First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence. The hospital has achieved several milestones, including being the first in Singapore to receive the Joint Commission International accreditation for outstanding patient care and safety, and it continues to be recognised for its excellence in healthcare, research, and innovation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | National University Hospital (NUH) |
| Location | Kent Ridge, Singapore |
| Year of Construction | 1980-1984 |
| Year of Opening | 1985 |
| Initial Owner | Temasek Holdings |
| Current Owner | National University of Singapore (NUS) |
| Managed By | National University Health System (NUHS) |
| Type | Public, Academic, University Hospital |
| Number of Beds | 1200+ |
| Number of Patients (Annual) | 1,000,000+ |
| Departments | 50+ (including Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, Oncology, etc.) |
| Awards/Accreditations | Singapore H.E.A.L.T.H Award, Joint Commission International accreditation, ISO18001:2007, ISO9001:2000, ISO14001:2004 |
| Notable Achievements | First hip resurfacing procedure in Singapore, first bilateral cochlear implantation, CAR-T therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia |
| Research and Innovation | AI tools, Augmented Reality (AR), Holomedicine, Centre for Reproductive Education & Specialist Training (CREST) |
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What You'll Learn
- NUH is a government-owned, privately-run hospital
- NUH is Singapore's leading university hospital
- NUH is the principal teaching hospital of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
- NUH is the only public and not-for-profit hospital in Singapore providing care for adults, women, and children
- NUH is a key member of the National University Health System (NUHS)

NUH is a government-owned, privately-run hospital
The National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore is a unique academic medical centre that serves as both a public hospital and the principal teaching hospital for the National University of Singapore's Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. NUH has the distinction of being Singapore's first privately run, government-owned hospital.
NUH's history can be traced back to 1905, when the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, its affiliated medical school, was founded. However, the hospital itself was established more recently, with its construction beginning in 1980 and completing in 1984. Originally known as the Kent Ridge Hospital, it was renamed the National University Hospital when it opened to the public on 24 June 1985, receiving its first patients in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.
In terms of ownership and management, NUH has undergone some changes over the years. Initially, it was owned and managed by Temasek Holdings, a government investment holding company. In 1987, the hospital came under the purview of the Ministry of Health's Health Corporation of Singapore (HCS). Recognising the importance of NUH as a potential centre for medical education, the government decided to transfer its governance to the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1990. This decision aligned with the government's vision of establishing NUH as the principal medical teaching institution in Singapore.
The transition to NUS governance was a phased process due to the hospital's significant financial operations. During this transition, the hospital temporarily reverted to Temasek Holdings before being fully transferred to NUS ownership. Under NUS, NUH has flourished as a teaching hospital, offering a rich environment for research and education.
Today, NUH is a key member of the National University Health System (NUHS), one of three public healthcare clusters in Singapore. It is committed to enhancing the health of the community it serves and adopts a population health approach. With over 1,200 beds and serving more than a million patients annually, NUH offers a comprehensive range of medical, surgical, and dental specialties.
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NUH is Singapore's leading university hospital
The National University Hospital (NUH) is Singapore's leading university hospital. It is the principal teaching hospital of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, with a legacy that dates back to 1905. NUH is a unique academic medical centre with over 1,200 beds, serving more than a million patients a year across 50 medical, surgical, and dental specialties.
NUH is the only public and not-for-profit hospital in Singapore, providing trusted care for adults, women, and children under one roof. It is also the only transplant centre in Singapore offering paediatric kidney and liver transplants, in addition to kidney, liver, and pancreas transplants for adults. The hospital has achieved several milestones in Singaporean medical history, including performing the first hip resurfacing procedure in the country in 2005, and the first bilateral cochlear implantation on a ten-month-old baby in 2006.
NUH was originally known as the Kent Ridge Hospital, with construction beginning in 1980 and completion at the end of 1984. It was first owned by Temasek Holdings, a government investment holding company, and was the first privately run, government-owned hospital. In 1987, it came under the Ministry of Health's Health Corporation of Singapore (HCS). The hospital was then handed over to the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1990, with the government's vision of making NUH the principal medical teaching institution in the country.
NUH has continued to pioneer research, innovation, and clinical practices. It was the first hospital in Singapore to receive the Joint Commission International accreditation in 2004, recognising its excellent clinical practices in patient care and safety. NUH also established the National University Cancer Institute Singapore (NCIS) and the National University Heart Centre Singapore (NUHCS) in 2007 to address the growing demand for cancer and heart treatments.
NUH is committed to enhancing the health of the community it serves through its position within the NUHS Academic Health System. It embraces a population health approach, leveraging technology such as AI and augmented reality to revolutionise healthcare delivery and receive international healthcare sustainability certification.
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NUH is the principal teaching hospital of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
The National University Hospital (NUH) is Singapore's leading university hospital. It is the first privately run, government-owned hospital, originally owned by Temasek Holdings, a government investment holding company. NUH first received its patients on 24 June 1985, but its legacy began in 1905, the founding date of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.
NUH is a key member of the National University Health System (NUHS), one of three public healthcare clusters in Singapore. It is committed to enhancing the health of the community it serves by adopting a population health approach. NUH has been recognised for its world-class clinical outcomes, research, and innovation, making it onto the World's Best Hospitals ranking for four consecutive years.
NUH has achieved several milestones and accolades. It was the first hospital in Singapore to receive the Joint Commission International accreditation for excellent clinical practices in patient care and safety. It has also pioneered several medical procedures in the country, such as the first hip resurfacing procedure and bilateral cochlear implantation on a ten-month-old baby. NUH is Singapore's only transplant centre offering paediatric kidney and liver transplants, in addition to kidney, liver, and pancreas transplants for adults.
The hospital has continued to evolve and expand its services. In 2007, it set up two new national specialist centres: the National University Cancer Institute Singapore (NCIS) and the National University Heart Centre Singapore (NUHCS) to meet the increasing demand for cancer and heart treatments. NUH also formed partnerships with the National University of Singapore's Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Faculty of Dentistry to create the National University Health System, integrating education and clinical care.
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NUH is the only public and not-for-profit hospital in Singapore providing care for adults, women, and children
The National University Hospital (NUH) is Singapore's leading university hospital. It is the only public and not-for-profit hospital in Singapore, providing trusted care for adults, women, and children under one roof. NUH is the principal teaching hospital of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, with a unique identity that attracts healthcare professionals who want to do more than practice tertiary medical care. The hospital offers an environment where research and teaching are integral to medicine, shaping and transforming care for the community.
NUH was originally known as the Kent Ridge Hospital, with construction beginning in 1980 and the entire project completed by the end of 1984. The hospital first received its patients on 24 June 1985 and was officially opened on 17 June 1986 by Goh Chok Tong, then First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence. NUH was the first privately run, government-owned hospital under the ownership and management of Temasek Holdings, a government investment holding company. In 1987, it came under the Ministry of Health's Health Corporation of Singapore (HCS).
In 1990, the government decided to hand over the governance of the hospital to the National University of Singapore (NUS) to make NUH the principal medical teaching institution of Singapore. To avoid duplication of services, the government designated that only two places, SGH and NUH, would offer highly specialised units, while all other hospitals would house general speciality departments. NUH is a key member of the National University Health System (NUHS), one of three public healthcare clusters in Singapore.
NUH has achieved several milestones and accolades over the years. It was the first hospital in Singapore to receive the Joint Commission International accreditation in 2004, recognising excellent clinical practices in patient care and safety. In 2005, it performed the country's first hip resurfacing procedure and organised the first NUH Kidney Day to raise awareness of chronic kidney disease risks and prevention. NUH set up two new national specialist centres in 2007: the National University Cancer Institute Singapore (NCIS) and the National University Heart Centre Singapore (NUHCS) to address the growing demand for cancer and heart treatments. The hospital has also pioneered the use of AI and AR technologies, revolutionising healthcare and surgical research.
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NUH is a key member of the National University Health System (NUHS)
The National University Hospital (NUH) is a key member of the National University Health System (NUHS). NUH is Singapore's leading university hospital, originally known as the Kent Ridge Hospital. It was the first privately run, government-owned hospital under the ownership of Temasek Holdings. The hospital was built at a cost of $193 million, with an initial projection of 752 beds, and construction was completed at the end of 1984. NUH first received its patients on 24 June 1985 and was officially opened on 17 June 1986.
NUH is the principal teaching hospital of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, with a unique identity as a university hospital. It offers an environment where research and teaching are integral to medicine, attracting healthcare professionals who want to do more than practice tertiary medical care. As an academic medical centre, NUH has over 1,200 beds and serves more than one million patients a year with over 50 medical, surgical, and dental specialties. It is the only public and not-for-profit hospital in Singapore to provide care for adults, women, and children under one roof, including paediatric kidney and liver transplants.
In 1990, the government decided to hand over the governance of the hospital to the National University of Singapore (NUS) to make NUH the principal medical teaching institution in the country. NUH has achieved several milestones, such as being the first hospital in Singapore to receive the Joint Commission International accreditation in 2004 and performing the country's first hip resurfacing procedure and bilateral cochlear implantation on a ten-month-old baby in 2006. NUH also set up two new national specialist centres, the National University Cancer Institute Singapore (NCIS) and the National University Heart Centre Singapore (NUHCS), in 2007 to meet the increasing demand for cancer and heart treatments.
NUH is committed to enhancing the health of the community it serves by adopting a population health approach within the NUHS Academic Health System. It has pioneered research, innovations, and clinical practices to elevate standards in early disease detection, precise diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of digestive illnesses. NUH has also developed new AI tools that are revolutionising healthcare, such as augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore is a government-funded hospital. It was originally owned by Temasek Holdings, a government investment holding company, and came under the Ministry of Health's Health Corporation of Singapore (HCS) in 1987.
The hospital came under the governance of the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1990. The transfer was done in phases, with the hospital first reverting to Temasek Holdings.
NUH was originally known as the Kent Ridge Hospital, with construction beginning in 1980 and completed in 1984. It received its first patients on 24 June 1985 and was officially opened on 17 June 1986.
NUH is Singapore's leading university hospital and the only public and not-for-profit hospital in the country to provide care for adults, women, and children under one roof. It is also the principal teaching hospital of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, offering an environment where research and teaching are integral to medicine.





























