About the OGSS
The Obstetrical & Gynecological (O & G) Society of Singapore (OGSS) was formed to provide a focal point for doctors who were interested in practising obstetrics and gynaecology to meet on a regular basis at the Kandang Kerbau Hospital, which was then the largest maternity hospital in the world.
Common interest led to the registration of the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society as a section within the Singapore Medical Association on 7 September 1960. On 27 July 1972, the Constitution of the society was registered and the society became an independent autonomous body. The Inaugural Meeting of the new society was held on 3 September 1972 and Professor S S Ratnam became the first President of the new society and 41 members present constituted the Founder Members of the new society.
During the sixties, when there were relatively few obstetricians and gynaecologists, the Society’s membership was open to general practitioners as well. Some of them have played an important role in building up the Society. With the rapid increase in the number of obstetricians and gynaecologists in Singapore during the last twenty years, the Society’s membership swelled with the influx of specialists who now run the Society. At present, the Society has 310 members, both from the 2 health group clusters and from the private hospitals. The Society serves as a focal point for social, clinical and academic networking for obstetricians and gynaecologists in Singapore.
The O & G Society of Singapore is an independent Society with affiliation to the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), the Asia-Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and the International Federation of Fertility Societies.
Activities
Apart from organising congresses, the O & G Society of Singapore holds workshops, seminars, courses and regular meetings which invariably feature both local and foreign expertise. The Society has two prestigious lectures : (1) the O & G Society Oration held annually and (2) the Benjamin Henry Sheares’ Memorial Lecture for outstanding work in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology held annually.The Society publishes the Singapore Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology continuously since 1970. Prior to this, its publication was known as the Proceedings of the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Singapore. The Journal has three issues per year and receives papers from all over the world.
Objectives
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To promote and maintain a high standard in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Singapore;
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To foster a sense of professional ethics;
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To encourage study and research into problems related to and connected with the health of women, the foetus and
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new-born child;
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To hold meetings for scientific discussions and practical demonstrations that are consistent with the objects of the Society;
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To publish papers and other literature related to Obstetrics and Gynaecology and allied subjects;
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To promote co-operation with Organisations relevant to the Society, the Government and Institutions of higher learning in the Republic; and
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To be affiliated with international organisations concerned with Obstetrics and Gynaecology as long as such affiliation is consistent with the objectives of the Society.
Singapore ObGyn Achievements
The maternal mortality (deaths of mothers due to pregnancy or childbirth) rate in Singapore has decreased from 180 per 100,000 births in the 1950s, to 40 per 100,000 in 1960s and to 5-15 per 100,000 since 1980s. Singapore has one of the lowest maternal death rates related to pregnancy and childbirth in the Asia-Pacific region and in the world.
The perinatal mortality (deaths of a fetus inside the womb or babies around the time of delivery) rate in Singapore has been reduced from 35.4 per 1,000 in the 1950s to 27.9 per 1,000 in 1960s, 21.5 per 1,000 in 1970s, 8.9 per 1,000 in 1980s and to less than 5.0 per 1,000 in 1990s. Infant mortality (death from babies less than 1 year) rate showed a parallel decrease from 82.2 per 1,000 in the 1950s to less than 6.0 per 1,000 in 1990s. Singapore has one of the lowest perinatal and neonatal death rates related to pregnancy and childbirth in the Asia-Pacific region and in the world.
In 1966, there were only 6 specialists in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) and in 1976 there were 58. There are now over 5,577 medical doctors (MBBS) in Singapore (1:720) of which 225 (81 public sector & 144 private sectors) are qualified registered specialists in O&G as of 31 Dec 2000. Specialist examinations (MRANZCOG, MRCOG, MMED O&G) is conducted in O&G and in midwifery, locally (Nanyang Polytechnic, NUS School of Postgraduate Medical Studies) and by overseas bodies (RANZCOG, RCOG) help to maintain the standard of obstetric care in Singapore. Advanced specialist training (AST) leading to exit specialist certification further enhances the care.\r\n\r\nIn 1967, only 38.7% of the women delivered in Kandang Kerbau Hospital had antenatal care before delivery. In 1975, 70% of the women had their babies delivered at the Hospital had at least 3 antenatal visits. In 2001, almost all mothers ( more than 95%) in Singapore had antenatal care before delivery.
In the 1960s Singapore’s name was placed firmly on the international map when works on the trophoblastic disease were published. In the 1970s research in prostaglandins (used for induction of labour) done in Singapore made international impact. Asia’s first “test tube baby” was born in Kandang Kerbau Hospital, Singapore on 19th May 1983. Professor SS Ratnam is the second Asian gynaecologist to have been elected President of FIGO (The International Federation of Gynaecology & Obstetrics). In 1991, the Obstetrical & Gynaecological Society of Singapore successfully organised one of the largest FIGO World Congress attended by 5,000 delegates (with 1,132 accompanying persons), who presented and discussed more than 2,000 papers.
References
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Singapore Medical Council Annual Report 2000
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Ratnam SS. Proceedings of the Obstetrical and Gynaecologial Society of Singapore. 1976 Vol 7 1-5 Current Trends in Obstetric Care. Oration delivered on 28 February 1976.
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The Obstetrical & Gynaecological Society of Singapore 1972- 1993 Book Edited by Arulkumaran S & Daneil RO.
