Travelling from the Philippines to Singapore for specialist medical care involves careful planning. Before deciding whether to travel, patients will usually begin with a pre-travel teleconsultation with Dr Aaron Poh.
During the teleconsultation, Dr Aaron Poh can review your symptoms, medical history and available investigation results to provide preliminary guidance on the next steps in your care. The Alpine Surgical Practice team will also advise which medical reports, scan files and other documents you should prepare or bring with you if an in-person consultation is arranged in Singapore.
Organising these records beforehand gives Dr Aaron Poh a clearer understanding of your condition and may support the planning of any further investigations, procedures or surgery during your intended travel period.
Medical records show how your condition has developed, what has already been investigated and which treatments you have received. Having this information available may:
The records required will depend on your symptoms and the condition being assessed. As a general guide, prepare the documents that are relevant to your current concern.
DOCUMENT TYPE | EXAMPLE |
Symptom and medical history summary | Your main symptoms, when they began, how they have changed, known medical conditions, previous diagnoses and relevant family medical history |
Referral or consultation letters | A referral letter from your doctor, if available, and notes from previous specialist consultations |
Investigation reports | Blood and stool test results, gastroscopy or colonoscopy reports, ultrasound findings, X-rays, CT or MRI reports and other relevant test results |
Original imaging files | Complete scan files in their original medical-imaging format, commonly DICOM, together with the radiologist’s written report |
Pathology or biopsy reports | Laboratory findings from tissue samples, biopsies, polyps or previous surgery, where relevant |
Procedure and treatment records | Previous operation or procedure notes, discharge summaries, hospital records and details of treatments already received |
Medication and supplement list | The name, dose and frequency of each prescription medicine, over-the-counter medicine, vitamin, herbal remedy and health supplement you take |
Allergies and previous reactions | Medication allergies and previous reactions to contrast dye, anaesthesia or other treatments |
Clinical photographs, where relevant | Clear photographs of a visible lump, swelling, wound or skin change, if requested by the clinic |
Bring the most recent results together with older records that show a meaningful change in your condition. If you are unsure whether a document is relevant, include it for review or ask the clinic before travelling.
Whenever possible, provide both.
The written report contains the radiologist’s interpretation of the scan. The original image files allow Dr Aaron Poh to review the images directly and consider details that may be relevant to your condition or treatment planning.
Screenshots, photographs of a scan or selected image slices may not contain the complete study. Ask the hospital or imaging centre in the Philippines for:
The scan files may be supplied on a disc, USB drive or through an approved digital platform, depending on the clinic’s instructions.
You do not need to create a complex medical file. A clear, chronological set of records is usually sufficient.
Before submitting your documents:
Your medical documents are only one part of the assessment. It may also be helpful to prepare:
Your medical history, symptoms and existing records will be reviewed together. A diagnosis or treatment recommendation may still require an in-person examination or additional investigations.
In addition to your medical records, prepare:
Check with your insurer before travelling, as documentation and pre-authorisation requirements vary between policies.
If surgery is being considered, Dr Aaron Poh may also need information about:
Do not stop or change any medication or supplement without medical advice. If an adjustment is required before a procedure, the care team will provide instructions based on the planned treatment and your individual health needs.
The exact preparation required depends on the type of procedure and your overall health. Dr Aaron Poh and the Alpine Surgical Practice team will provide procedure-specific instructions after reviewing your condition, medications and proposed treatment.
Patients may not always have access to every previous medical document, particularly when investigations were performed at different healthcare facilities.
You can still arrange an initial consultation if some documents are unavailable. Provide as much accurate information as you can, including:
You may also ask the hospital, clinic, laboratory or imaging centre that treated you in the Philippines how to request copies of your records. After reviewing the available information, Dr Aaron Poh can advise whether further investigations are needed.
Organising your medical records before travelling can help Dr Aaron Poh understand your condition, review previous investigations and discuss the next steps in your care.
The documents needed vary between patients. In general, prepare your symptom history, investigation reports, original scan files, treatment records, medication list and information about allergies or previous reactions. The Alpine Surgical Practice team can advise whether any additional records or assessments may be relevant after reviewing the information available.
Arrange a pre-travel online consultation or contact Alpine Surgical Practice for guidance on submitting your medical documents.
Dr Aaron Poh is a fully accredited General Surgeon with dual subspecialties in Colorectal Surgery and Trauma Surgery, recognised by Singapore’s Specialist Accreditation Board and Ministry of Health. He is the Medical Director of Alpine Surgical Practice, with clinics located at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Parkway East Hospital, and Farrer Park Hospitals.
Dr Aaron Poh has extensive experience, having performed over 5,000 endoscopic procedures. He is a strong advocate for early detection through colonoscopy, particularly for individuals at risk of colorectal cancer. His expertise includes advanced endoscopic techniques such as Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) for complex polyps and colonic stenting for obstructed cancers, which help patients avoid major emergency surgery.
When surgery is required, he specialises in minimally invasive laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery, offering patients faster recovery with less pain and scarring. In addition to cancer care, he manages a wide range of anal conditions including haemorrhoids, fistulas, fissures, and abscesses, providing comprehensive colorectal treatment.
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