Singapore General Hospital (SGH) has teamed up with the International Bowel Ultrasound Group (IBUS) and Johnson & Johnson to tackle the challenge of “invisible inflammation” in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This initiative aims to improve access to intestinal ultrasound (IUS), a non-invasive method for real-time assessment of bowel inflammation, which is crucial for effective IBD management.
The programme will initially train and certify 19 gastroenterologists from leading institutions across Southeast Asia and India. SGH, serving as the regional training hub, plans to establish 15 IUS-capable centres, enhancing disease monitoring for nearly 1,000 patients in the first year. This effort is part of a broader strategy to build a sustainable network of specialists promoting best practices in IBD care.
Dr Malcolm Tan, Senior Consultant at SGH’s Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, highlighted the importance of precise and less invasive care. “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,” he stated.
Dr Federica Furfaro, EDUCOM Chair at IBUS, emphasised the need for equitable access to advanced IBD monitoring. “This collaboration will create a sustainable network of expertise that can accelerate the adoption of evidence-based monitoring across healthcare systems,” she said.
SGH’s initiative represents a significant step towards improving IBD care, potentially leading to earlier treatment optimisation and more personalised care for patients across the region.
