SGH leads regional effort to close the "invisible inflammation" gap in inflammatory bowel disease

Singapore, 26 August 2026 – Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be deceptive. Patients may feel well and experience little discomfort, yet inflammation may continue quietly in the bowel. Over time, this unseen inflammation can damage the intestinal lining and cause ulcers, even before symptoms become apparent. This mismatch between how patients feel and what is happening inside the body is a major challenge in managing IBD, which affects an estimated 3,000 people in Singapore and a rising number across Asia. Without regular monitoring, ongoing inflammation can lead to serious complications, hospitalisation and surgery.[i]^,[ii]

To address this challenge, Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and the International Bowel Ultrasound Group (IBUS) in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson have launched a regional initiative to expand access to intestinal ultrasound (IUS), a non-invasive tool that allows doctors to assess bowel inflammation in real time during a clinic visit. As treatment goals in IBD continue to evolve beyond symptom control towards achieving deeper outcomes such as endoscopic remission, where the bowel lining appears visibly healthy upon internal examination, timely and accurate assessment of inflammation has become increasingly important.

The inaugural programme will train and certify 19 gastroenterologists from leading institutions across Southeast Asia and India. Beyond the initial cohort, the collaboration aims to support the establishment of 15 IUS-capable centres, strengthen access to advanced disease monitoring for close to 1,000 patients in the first year, and build a sustainable network of specialists who can champion best practices in IBD care across the region.

As the host institution, SGH will serve as the regional training hub, drawing on its expertise as home to Singapore's first dedicated multidisciplinary IBD Centre. Through the programme, SGH will share its experience in disease monitoring, clinical decision-making and integrated patient care.[iii]

Dr. Malcolm Tan, Senior Consultant at the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and Director of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Centre, SGH, "One of the greatest frustrations for people living with IBD is the uncertainty of whether their disease is truly under control. Symptoms may improve, but inflammation can persist beneath the surface and potentially lead to long-term complications.

"At SGH, our comprehensive service cares for approximately 1,000 IBD patients and performs 400 intestinal ultrasound assessments each year. Our experience has shown us that the future of IBD care must be more precise and less invasive. Our ambition is not simply to train specialists, but to help build an ecosystem where more patients can benefit from timely disease monitoring, earlier intervention and greater confidence in the decisions they make with their healthcare teams."

Dr Federica Furfaro, EDUCOM CHAIR, International Bowel Ultrasound Group (IBUS), "Across many parts of Asia, access to advanced IBD monitoring remains uneven despite the rising burden of disease. This collaboration will create a sustainable network of expertise that can accelerate the adoption of evidence-based monitoring across healthcare systems.

"Regardless of where a patient lives, we want them to benefit from the same high standards of disease monitoring and informed clinical decision-making. By strengthening regional capability today, we can help more patients receive earlier treatment optimisation and more personalised care."

About Singapore General Hospital (SGH)

Singapore General Hospital, established in 1821, is the largest tertiary hospital in Singapore and consistently ranked among the 10 best hospitals worldwide. It provides the most comprehensive patient-centred care with over 50 clinical specialties on its campus. As an Academic Medical Centre, it takes pride in training healthcare professionals and conducting cutting edge research to meet evolving needs of the nation as well as the region. Driven by a strong sense of purpose, SGH is committed to give of its best to heal and bring hope, as it has for over 200 years.

For more information, please visit www.sgh.com.sg

[i] Singapore General Hospital. About Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Published 28 June 2024. Available at: https://www.sgh.com.sg/news/singapore-health/about-inflammatory-bowel-disease.

[ii]Low D, Swarup N, Okada T, Mizoguchi E. Landscape of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Singapore. Intestinal Research. 2022;20(3):291–296. [Page_18_thumbnail | Undefined]

[iii]Singapore General Hospital. Inflammatory Bowel Disease Centre. Available at: https://www.sgh.com.sg/our-specialties/inflammatory-bowel-disease-centre. [Page_23_thumbnail | Undefined]