The National University Centre for Digestive Health brings together specialists and services to reduce waiting times, minimise repeated visits, and enable faster treatment decisions for better outcomes.
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Digestive health underpins nutrition, immunity, and overall quality of life. Yet common conditions, including ulcers, liver disease, and colorectal disorders, often go undetected until serious complications develop. In Singapore, cancers of the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary system make up around 31 per cent of cancers in men and 18 per cent in women. Colorectal cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer overall, while liver cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. As Singapore’s population ages, demand for screening, specialist care, and long-term management is set to rise sharply.
To address this growing need, the National University Hospital (NUH) has opened the National University Centre for Digestive Health (NUCD), integrating gastroenterology, hepatology, colorectal, and upper gastrointestinal services. By accelerating access from initial consultation to surgical expertise, the Centre shortens waiting times, reduces repeated visits, and supports timely treatment decisions — particularly crucial for conditions that progress under the radar.
“With the ageing population that we now have, in 10 to 15 years’ time, the median age in Singapore will be approaching 50 years old, when the rates of colon cancer will start growing exponentially,” says Adjunct Associate Professor Lee Guan Huei, Centre Director, NUCD. “Having the Centre means NUH can consolidate its digestive health resources under one roof to focus on enhancing patient care and developing new detection tools and therapies for the anticipated rise in patient numbers.”
A key focus of NUCD is improving how digestive conditions are identified and managed at earlier stages, when treatment is more effective. This includes chronic liver disease and colorectal cancer — both of which can progress silently before symptoms appear.
For liver conditions such as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, which is increasing alongside obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, early detection remains a challenge. Some patients may develop significant liver damage even when routine blood tests appear normal. NUCD works closely with National University Polyclinics and general practitioners to strengthen screening and referral pathways, allowing higher-risk individuals to be identified and assessed earlier.
Since 2022, more than 15,000 individuals have been screened through NUCD’s chronic liver disease programme. Earlier identification allows patients to begin monitoring and treatment sooner, reducing the risk of progression to advanced disease.
The Centre is also strengthening colorectal cancer detection by focusing on the quality of screening. By improving how precancerous polyps are identified and removed during colonoscopy, more early changes can be detected and treated before they develop into cancer. These improvements are supported by initiatives such as AI-enabled and image-enhanced colonoscopy, alongside systems that track detection rates and provide feedback to endoscopists. Together, these efforts have contributed to measurable improvements in outcomes.
For patients living with chronic digestive conditions, care often extends beyond diagnosis and treatment to long-term management. At NUCD, care for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is organised through a hub-and-network model, where complex cases and research are concentrated at the Centre, while routine management is supported across partner hospitals and polyclinics. This allows patients to receive care closer to home when appropriate, while maintaining access to specialist expertise when required. In some cases, treatment can also be delivered outside the hospital setting.
For Mr Anson Hoo, a 25-year-old with ulcerative colitis and a rare liver condition, the option of receiving biologic therapy at home has made a significant difference. Previously, each treatment required a hospital admission lasting up to 30 hours. Now, he can continue his studies while receiving care in a more familiar environment. “I agreed to it because I’m still studying for a diploma and can do my work from home. I also don’t have to wait quite long for the bed to be available to go down, and that also solves the bed issue that the hospital might have,” he shares.
Dr Bernice Tan, Consultant, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, NUH, notes that the programme is supported by a multidisciplinary team and helps free up hospital resources while improving patient convenience. Referral pathways have also been refined, allowing high-risk patients identified in primary care to be seen by specialist teams within weeks, rather than months.
“The launch of NUCD marks a significant step forward in how we care for patients with digestive conditions,” adds Adj A/Prof Lee, who is also Head of Division and Senior Consultant, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, NUH. “By bringing together advanced diagnostics, specialist expertise, and new clinical tools, we aim to deliver care that is faster, more precise, and patient-focused. Our goal is simple — to detect problems early, treat them well, and help our patients live healthier lives.”
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