Digestive health is central to overall well-being, influencing nutrition, immunity, and quality of life. Yet common conditions, such as ulcers, liver disease, and colorectal disorders, often go undetected until they lead to serious complications. To address this, the National University Hospital (NUH) has officially opened the National University Centre for Digestive Health (NUCD), a facility dedicated to early detection, advanced treatment, and seamless patient care for digestive diseases.
With its official opening, the Centre is strengthening the entire care pathway by accelerating access from initial digestive consultation to surgical expertise in Upper Gastrointestinal, Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic, and Colorectal, so patients can see the right specialists on the same day. This streamlined approach reduces waiting times, minimises repeated visits, and enables faster treatment decisions for better outcomes.
Another key focus of the Centre is improving the detection of colorectal cancer, often called a ‘silent killer’ because symptoms usually appear only in later stages. According to the Singapore Cancer Registry Annual Report 20222 , colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths locally. To tackle this, the Centre is improving colonoscopy quality by increasing the Adenoma Detection Rate (ADR), a measure of how often doctors detect and remove precancerous polyps during the procedure.
“The launch of NUCD marks a significant step forward in how we care for patients with digestive conditions,” said Adj A/Prof Lee Guan Huei, Centre Director, National University Centre for Digestive Health. “By bringing together advanced diagnostics, specialist expertise, and cutting-edge technology, we aim to deliver care that is faster, more precise, and patient-focused. At the same time, we are driving research into new detection methods and innovative therapies, such as blood-based diagnostic tools that reduce the need for invasive procedures while maintaining accuracy. Our goal is simple - to detect problems early, treat them well, and help our patients live healthier lives.” Adj A/Prof Lee is also Head and Senior Consultant, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, NUH.
