Singapore’s Woodlands Hospital opens digestive centre as early detection lags

All endoscopy suites have computer-aided detection using artificial intelligence.

Woodlands Hospital opened a Digestive Health Centre after finding that only 16% of its colorectal cancer patients were diagnosed at Stage 1, below the national average of 19%.

Of nearly 150 colorectal cancer patients seen at the hospital between July 2025 and June 2026, almost one in four were diagnosed at Stage 4.  

The centre combines primary care referrals, diagnostic endoscopy, specialist consultations, surgical teams, speciality-trained nurses and allied health services under one roof.

All endoscopy suites have computer-aided detection using artificial intelligence, which analyses live video during colonoscopies and gastroscopies and flags polyps with on-screen boxes and audible cues.  

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in Singapore, with about 37 new cases per 100,000 males and 27 per 100,000 females from 2019 to 2023, according to the Singapore Cancer Registry.

About 23% of diagnoses occur in people under 60. Only 44.9% of residents aged 50 to 74 had been screened at the recommended frequency in 2024.