Singapore Diagnostics brings home three wins at Healthcare Asia Awards 2025

It has intentionally priced itself at the affordable market segment to provide best-in-class lab testing to as many Filipinos as possible.

Singapore Diagnostics (SGD) was honoured at the prestigious Healthcare Asia Awards 2025 for its exceptional performance in providing the highest quality of laboratory testing to many Filipinos, with its growing accessibility, best-in-class technology, enhanced workforce capabilities, and improved facilities.

Expanding access to quality diagnostics

From 2022 to 2024, SGD has grown from serving 800,000 to 1.7 million patients per year. Already in 60 sites, the laboratory addresses gaps in accessibility, affordability, and technology. Of these sites, 40 are hospital and outpatient facilities outsourced to SGD. These arrangements provide for skills enhancement and technology transfer to partners seeking to better serve their patients.

The laboratory also intentionally prices itself at the affordable market segment aligned with its intent to provide outstanding lab testing to as many Filipinos as possible.

Amongst its recent innovations is the Electronic Single Laboratory Integration Platform (e-SLIP) project, wherein over 800 laboratories have chosen SGD as a send-out partner. With e-SLIP, any partner can directly interface with SGD's system, resulting in a seamless integration for test requests and result delivery.

This project addresses challenges faced by SGD's partner laboratories, which previously relied on diverse systems and manual processes that led to inefficiencies and delays. By enabling real-time electronic transmission of test requests and results, e-SLIP has streamlined operations, minimised errors, and improved turnaround times. Its seamless compatibility with various laboratory systems ensures easy adoption, allowing healthcare providers to access accurate diagnostic data more efficiently and ultimately enhancing patient care.

With 384 medical technologists in its roster, the laboratory also invests in skills and competencies to prepare them for growth in the company, the industry, or the global stage. This is further strengthened by the SGD Credentialing Programme, wherein the company provides specialist training in the fields of haematology, immunochemistry, and microbiology.

In 2024, 359 training modules were provided to the team — a 93% module-to-employee rate.

Enhancing laboratory capabilities

SGD partnered with VisayasMed to modernise its 70-year-old laboratory, addressing outdated infrastructure and limited testing capabilities. The hospital faced challenges in meeting patient demand, often referring cases externally, which led to delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Taking over full operations on 1 March 2024, SGD carried out a complete laboratory overhaul, including facility renovation, equipment replacement, digital integration, and staff retraining. This upgrade expanded VisayasMed's diagnostic capacity by six times, enabling a broader range of tests and significantly improving efficiency. By November 2024, 95% of routine tests were processed within six hours, enhancing service quality and patient care.

The transformation delivered substantial improvements, with patient episodes increasing by 40% and test volumes growing by 36%. Hospital revenue surged by 36%, whilst lab margins rose from 28% to 61%.

“SGD's multifaceted approach to transformation, from workforce development to technology innovation, along with geographic expansion and commitment to quality, showcases its excellence and promise to improving healthcare outcomes,” the laboratory said.

Through this strategic partnership, SGD has not only elevated Visayas Med’s laboratory operations but also reinforced its commitment to advancing healthcare excellence in the Philippines.

The leading laboratory received the Diagnostics Provider of the Year - Philippines for the third time since 2023, ICT Initiative of the Year - Philippines, and Facilities Improvement Initiative of the Year - Philippines titles during the prestigious awards programme.

Healthcare Asia Awards 2025 honours exceptional hospitals across the region that have redefined the standards of excellence in the industry through their innovative solutions and substantial contributions to communities.

The Healthcare Asia Awards is presented by Healthcare Asia Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be acclaimed for your organisation's remarkable initiatives and contributions to the healthcare industry, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez at [email protected].