The National University Hospital in Singapore is deploying a South Korean AI system across all its endoscopy units to support real-time detection and diagnosis of digestive conditions. The agreement with Ainex Corporation covers the company's Endoscopy as AI-powered Device (ENAD) software, which the hospital will use alongside two other AI systems at the newly opened National University Centre for Digestive Health.
ENAD detects lesions in real time and automatically characterises them to support clinical decision-making. Citing peer-reviewed studies, Ainex said the software increased adenoma detection rate by 16%. The company received approval for ENAD from Singapore's Health Sciences Authority more than a year before the supply deal.
Joint research partnership
NUH and Ainex also announced a joint clinical research partnership aimed at improving ENAD's algorithm and diagnostic performance. Ainex said it plans to collect additional real-world data to improve the software's ability to identify adenomas, neoplasms, sessile serrated lesions, and early gastric cancer. The company also plans to develop and validate AI algorithms for assessing intestinal metaplasia and inflammatory bowel disease.
The supply deal and research partnership build on a memorandum of understanding signed between NUH and Ainex in 2024 to evaluate and validate ENAD. Ainex CEO David Lee said NUH's deployment has drawn "strong interest from Singapore's medical community."
Expanding footprint
Ainex claims ENAD was the first software of its kind approved in South Korea, where it is now deployed in more than 200 health settings. The software has also been approved in Thailand, Malaysia, and Colombia, while Ainex is pursuing CE marking in Europe.
The centre consolidates NUH's digestive health services to provide same-day access to specialists in upper gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and colorectal care. It also serves as a referral hub for complex cases from other hospitals within the National University Health System. The centre, first conceptualised in 2024, uses three AI-powered systems for detection, diagnosis, and quality control of digestive conditions, including gastrointestinal and liver cancers, which are among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in Singapore.
Healthcare professionals working with AI for Healthcare may see parallels between this deployment and broader trends in computer-assisted diagnosis. The hospital's approach pairs AI detection tools with clinician oversight rather than replacing human judgment.
On the record
"Computer-assisted endoscopy tools have the potential to increase detection of premalignant gastrointestinal lesions by helping clinicians identify areas that may warrant closer examination, as well as enhance gastrointestinal disease diagnosis by providing real-time gastrointestinal premalignant lesion assessment," said Dr Jonathan Lee, adjunct associate professor and senior consultant at NUH NUCD. "Platforms such as Ainex's ENAD integrate these detection and diagnostic capabilities for gastrointestinal endoscopy, supporting workflow consistency and complementing clinicians' expertise in making informed decisions."
Why this matters for healthcare professionals
For clinicians and endoscopy staff, the NUH deployment signals that AI-assisted tools are moving from pilot studies into routine hospital operations. The 16% improvement in adenoma detection rate cited by Ainex is the kind of measurable outcome that hospitals will likely weigh when evaluating similar systems. Professionals in AI for Medical Billers and other administrative roles may also track these deployments, as AI systems that change diagnostic workflows often affect documentation and coding processes downstream.
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