Achieving Skin Allograft Self-Sufficiency & Doubling Stockpile for Emergency Preparedness
Care Process & Redesign
National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity Medals
SingHealth
2 February 2026
Achieving Skin Allograft Self-Sufficiency & Doubling Stockpile for Emergency Preparedness. The strategies led to self-sufficiency in skin allografts and international recognition, providing a model for other countries.
Year Submitted: 2025
Published Date: 02 February 2026
Tags: Care Process ＆ Redesign, Productivity, Cost Saving, Quality Improvement, Clinical Practice Improvement, Workflow Redesign
About this Content
Aims
Achieving Skin Allograft Self-Sufficiency & Doubling Stockpile for Emergency Preparedness
Background
The SGH Skin Bank (SSB) is the national skin bank in Singapore, providing skin allografts for severe burn cases. From 2002 to 2011, there was a heavy reliance on overseas skin allografts, accounting for 91% of total skin used, which was unsustainable due to costs, logistics, and shorter shelf-life.
Methods
Implemented 5 key strategies: forming a synergistic multi-tissue centre, tapping into the national donation network, expanding public outreach, reducing reliance on skin allografts by using biosynthetic skin, and extending skin allograft shelf-life by freezing. SSB shared its experience with Taiwan National Skin Bank, leading to their establishment and mirroring of Singapore's efforts.
Results
Significant increase in local donors and skin allografts recovered, achieving skin self-sufficiency in 2017, doubling skin stockpile by 2020, and annual savings of SGD 212,000. International recognition with accreditation in 2016 and publication in 2024.
Conclusion
The strategies led to self-sufficiency in skin allografts and international recognition, providing a model for other countries.
Lessons Learnt
Breaking out of silos, expanding national skin donation coverage, working with a multi-disciplinary team, and achieving international accreditation.
Keywords
Skin Bank, Allograft, Self-Sufficiency, Emergency Preparedness, Accreditation
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | SingHealth |
Organization(s) Involved | Singapore General Hospital, SingHealth Tissue Transplant Centre (STTC) |
Platform(s) | National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity Medals |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Allied Health, Healthcare Administration, Medical, Nursing |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Allied Health, Medical ＆ Laboratory Technology, Healthcare Administrators, Clinical Research, Facilities Management, Medical, Dermatology, Nursing, Nursing Research |
Project Lead(s) | Tan Bien Keem |
Project Member(s) | Chua Wen Choong Alvin |
Connect with this contributor!
Tan Bien Keem - tan.bien.keem@singhealth.com.sg
Chua Wen Choong Alvin - alvin.chua.w.c@singhealth.com.sg