Singapore Hosts Inaugural Global Health Film Festival

29 January 2026

SINGAPORE: Singapore has hosted its first Global Health Film Festival, bringing together clinicians, students, policymakers, and partners to explore some of the region’s most urgent health challenges—from infectious disease preparedness to climate-related health risks.

At the closing of the event, Prof Patrick Tan, Dean of Duke-NUS Medical School, and Mr Yew Lin Goh, Chairman of the Board at Duke-NUS, joined panellists including Dr Jo-Anne Yeo, Clinical Sustainability Lead at Changi General Hospital; Ms Sumi Dhanarajan, Managing Director for Asia at the Forum for the Future; and Dr Andrea Bruni, Regional Advisor for Mental Health at WHO South-East Asia.

Organised by the SingHealth Duke‑NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI) in partnership with UK-based non-profit Global Health Film, the festival took place on 27 and 28 January at the Ngee Ann Kongsi (NAK) Auditorium within Singapore General Hospital. The two-night event featured over 500 seats, with many attendees returning for both evenings.

The festival was inaugurated by Professor Ng Wai Hoe, Group Chief Executive Officer of SingHealth, on Day One, and by Professor Patrick Tan on Day Two.

Using documentary storytelling, the Singapore Global Health Film Festival aimed to deepen understanding of global health issues and promote interdisciplinary dialogue. Each evening showcased a documentary, followed by moderated panels with clinicians, academics, and filmmakers, culminating in networking sessions designed to foster cross-sector collaboration.

Programme Highlight

Day One (27 January): Outbreak Preparedness 

The programme opened with Unseen Enemy, followed by a panel discussion on disease surveillance, health system resilience, and community engagement.

Day Two (28 January): Planetary Health 

The festival coincided with a period of heightened focus on global health in Asia, as countries draw lessons from recent pandemics and confront the health impacts of climate change. Building on a successful international model previously held in Australia, the Netherlands, Tanzania, the UK, and the US, this was the first edition of the Global Health Film Festival to be held in Southeast Asia.

Prof Ng Wai Hoe commented, "Pandemics and climate change cross borders, and no nation can tackle these issues alone. Our healthcare professionals have seen firsthand how major health crises affect every aspect of patient care. SingHealth is proud to contribute to this vital conversation, bringing together diverse perspectives to benefit patients and communities."

Prof Patrick Tan noted that the festival aligns closely with Duke-NUS’s educational mission. "Global health challenges do not respect disciplines or borders. Duke-NUS and our Global Health Institute aim to connect science, clinical insight, and policy to translate ideas into action. This festival creates a platform for dialogue and reflection, which can lead to meaningful solutions. Our students will gain invaluable experience engaging with real-world issues."

Prof London Lucien Ooi, Director of SDGHI, added, "Hosting Singapore’s first Global Health Film Festival exemplifies our commitment to shaping impactful policies and turning insights into action across Asia’s diverse social, economic, and cultural landscape. 

The inaugural Singapore edition was organised by SDGHI, a joint institute of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre, with support from the SingHealth International Collaboration Office, Duke-NUS Medical School, and Hilleman Laboratories.