Four of Singapore’s Leading Social Service Agencies Unite to Form Singapore’s Cancer Care Coalition, with the Aim to Tackle Rising Cancer Burden

31 January 2026

New coalition aims to drive unified, coordinated cancer awareness and prevention across Singapore’s diverse communities, starting with its first public outreach event, “Screen Fest,” at Kampong Admiralty.

Four of Singapore’s leading cancer non-profits have joined forces to form the Cancer Care Coalition, a first-of-its-kind alliance that unites efforts to raise awareness, drive prevention, and improve access to cancer care support across the nation. The founding members, namely Singapore Cancer Society (SCS), 365 Cancer Prevention Society (365CPS), Ain Society, and Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF), represent a joint commitment to drive more coordinated, impactful outreach for cancer awareness, prevention and early detection. The newly formed coalition will serve as a collective voice for the cancer community, bridging gaps and aligning programmes and research to benefit more people across Singapore’s diverse communities.

Cancer’s Changing Impact and the Need for Screening
Cancer accounts for more than a quarter of all deaths locally, and one in four Singapore residents is expected to develop cancer in their lifetime. At the same time, outcomes have considerably improved. The five-year cancer survival rate has tripled in the last 50 years, from 19.5% in 1973-1977 to 61.4% in 2019-2023 (Singapore Cancer Registry Annual Report 2023).

Despite this progress, there is much room to increase screening participation. The National Population Health Survey 2024 indicates that only 35-45% of eligible Singapore residents undergo regular screening for breast, colorectal and cervical cancers, despite the availability of national screening programmes. Getting more people to screen remains critical, as early detection enables timely treatment and better outcomes across the cancer journey.

These trends underscore the need for stronger, more coordinated community-based efforts to raise awareness, improve access to screening, and support individuals and families affected by cancer, particularly across Singapore’s diverse communities.

Launching with Screen Fest
The Cancer Care Coalition will formally launch at its inaugural event, Screen Fest: Your Health Deserves Some Screen Time, which will be graced by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who is also the Patron of SCS.

Taking place on 31st January 2026 (9am – 6pm) at Kampung Admiralty Level 1 Community Plaza, Screen Fest is designed as a community-led awareness drive. It complements the Ministry of Health’s preventive health push, engaging Singaporeans in their own languages and cultural contexts with talks in English, Mandarin and Malay, and encouraging early detection and healthy lifestyles through accessible information, on-site cancer screenings and the sharing of cancer survivor stories.

Screen Fest highlights include:

• Cancer awareness panel discussions featuring healthcare experts and cancer survivors
• On-site cancer screenings conducted by Community Mammobus Programme – a community programme by SCS, BCF and NHG Diagnostics (Singapore’s first mobile digital mammogram screening centre accredited under the national Screen for Life programme by Health Promotion Board) and HPV self-sampling as part of a research study in partnership with Alliance for Active Action Against HPV (A4HPV)
• Insightful cancer awareness fireside chats in English, Mandarin and Malay
• Fun stage programmes and exercises
• On-site enrolment and registration of cancer screening appointments via
• Healthier SG and other partner organisations

Screen Fest is the coalition’s first joint public activation and marks the first time more than 12 health and cancer care partners are coming together to bring cancer awareness and screening services to the community. It is supported by the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS) and NHG Health.

Building a Practical and Inclusive Support Ecosystem for the Community
The Cancer Care Coalition will evaluate its initiatives’ success based on measurable outcomes, such as increased understanding of cancer risks, and increased participation in screening. The coalition will also work to simplify care navigation and create more consistent pathways for individuals and families affected by cancer, including greater access to rehabilitation and psychosocial support services.

Over time, the coalition will invite more organisations and partners to come on board, broadening its reach to groups such as children and families affected by cancer, to build a whole-of-community ecosystem that empowers everyone touched by cancer.

“No single charity can address Singapore’s rising cancer burden alone. By forming the Cancer Care Coalition, we each bring strengths and support from our respective social service agencies to coordinate efforts, share knowledge, pool resources and support the national Healthier SG strategy in reaching more communities with awareness, prevention, care and outreach,” said Mr. Tan Kwang Cheak, Chairperson of the Cancer Care Coalition and Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Cancer Society.

Mr Ben Chua, Chief Executive of 365 Cancer Prevention Society:
“By aligning our efforts and pooling expertise, we are able to extend our reach, deliver more coordinated initiatives, and better support communities across the prevention continuum. Working together allows us to move beyond isolated efforts and create greater, more sustainable impact. Looking ahead, the coalition provides a strong platform to scale our efforts, deepen community engagement, and make a lasting difference in cancer prevention.”

Dr Haji Md Yusof Ismail, Chief Executive of Ain Society:
“Ain Society serves families affected by cancer, particularly within the Malay/Muslim community, providing culturally sensitive psychosocial and practical support for both adults and children. Through this cancer care coalition, we can better coordinate care across social service agencies and ensure that no community is left behind in the cancer journey.”

Mr Jacob Soo, General Manager of Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF):
“We believe that comprehensive cancer care requires a coordinated ecosystem. As BCF continues to champion early detection, promote screening uptake, and provide essential psychosocial support to patients and caregivers, working alongside our partners in this coalition allows us to strengthen continuity of care, improve access to support services, and ensure that every person affected by cancer in Singapore receives timely, holistic, and compassionate care.”