Dr David Chia is a radiation oncologist in the Department of Radiation Oncology, National University Cancer Institute Singapore (NCIS) at National University Hospital.
Qualifications (as publicly listed)
MBBS (Spore), FRANZCR (Australia)
Where they practise
David Chia practises at National University Hospital, in the Department of Radiation Oncology, National University Cancer Institute Singapore (NCIS). See the official profile linked below for current clinic and appointment details.
About Radiation Oncology
Radiation oncology treats cancer using precisely targeted radiotherapy. Radiation oncologists plan and deliver treatment for a wide range of cancers — including breast, lung, prostate, gastrointestinal, gynaecological, and head-and-neck cancers — using techniques such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), image-guided radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS/SBRT) and, at some centres, proton therapy. Radiotherapy may be used to cure, to shrink tumours before or after surgery, or to relieve symptoms in advanced disease. Careful planning with CT and other imaging focuses the dose on the tumour while sparing healthy tissue. Care is delivered within a multidisciplinary team alongside surgeons and medical oncologists.
Conditions and treatments commonly covered
Areas commonly seen in radiation oncology include:
- Breast cancer radiotherapy
- Lung cancer radiotherapy
- Prostate cancer radiotherapy
- Head and neck cancer
- Gastrointestinal and gynaecological cancers
- Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS/SBRT)
What to expect at a consultation
An initial consultation usually involves a discussion of your symptoms and medical history, a focused examination, and any tests needed to reach a diagnosis. The specialist will explain the findings, walk you through your options — including non-surgical approaches where relevant — and set out the likely costs and next steps before anything proceeds. If a procedure is recommended, it is reasonable to ask what it involves, the expected recovery time, the risks and the alternatives, so you can make an informed decision at your own pace. It helps to keep asking questions until you fully understand the plan.
Preparing for your appointment
- Bring referral letters, past reports, scan images and a list of your current medications.
- Note your main symptoms, when they started and what makes them better or worse.
- Write down the questions that matter most to you, and bring a family member if it helps.
After your consultation and follow-up
Depending on the diagnosis, you may be given medication, referred for further tests or imaging, scheduled for a procedure, or asked to return for review. Ask what warning signs should prompt earlier contact, how to get your results, and who to reach if you have questions between visits. Keeping your own copy of reports makes future care and any second opinion easier.
Costs, subsidies and financing in Singapore
For subsidised care at a public (restructured) hospital, a referral from a GP or polyclinic is generally needed; private specialists can usually be booked directly at full fees. Ask upfront for an estimate covering the consultation, tests and any procedure. Depending on the treatment, you may be able to use MediSave for approved day-surgery and procedures (within set limits), with MediShield Life or an Integrated Shield Plan helping for larger inpatient bills. Purely cosmetic procedures are not claimable. If cost is a concern, it is worth asking whether a subsidised referral is possible, and comparing written estimates between providers before you commit.
How to choose the right radiation oncologist in Singapore
Beyond credentials, it helps to match the specialist to your specific problem. Consider whether their sub-specialty fits your condition, how often they manage or operate on cases like yours, which hospital they admit to (and whether it suits your budget and insurance), and how clearly they explain your options and costs. Accreditation can be confirmed on the Register of Specialists and registration on the Singapore Medical Council register. Independent reviews are a useful signal for communication and experience, but weigh them alongside credentials rather than on their own.
Questions worth asking at your first consultation
- Are you an accredited specialist in the area my condition falls under?
- What are my options, including non-surgical or watch-and-wait approaches?
- How often do you treat or perform this, and what are the typical outcomes and risks?
- What is the full estimated cost, and what can I claim through MediSave or insurance?
- Are you comfortable with me seeking a second opinion?
Verifying credentials
In Singapore every practising doctor must be registered with the Singapore Medical Council, and specialists are additionally listed on the Register of Specialists maintained by the Specialist Accreditation Board — you can search both to confirm a doctor’s registration and field. The letters after a name (such as MRCP, FRCS or FAMS) reflect postgraduate training and fellowships, but the key question is simply whether the doctor is an accredited specialist in the area relevant to your care.
When to consider a second opinion
A second opinion is reasonable before major surgery, for a serious or unclear diagnosis, or when a recommended treatment feels aggressive or uncertain. Good specialists welcome it. Bring your reports and scans so the second doctor can assess the same information. You are entitled to a copy of your medical records to take along, and seeking another view will not offend a good specialist.
Common questions
What does a radiation oncologist do?
They treat cancer using precisely targeted radiotherapy — planning and delivering treatment to cure cancer, to shrink tumours before or after surgery, or to relieve symptoms — working within a multidisciplinary team.
Is radiotherapy painful?
The treatment itself is painless and usually takes only minutes per session; side effects build gradually over a course of treatment and depend on the area being treated. Your team will advise on managing them.
How is radiation oncology different from medical oncology?
A radiation oncologist delivers radiotherapy, while a medical oncologist treats cancer with medicines such as chemotherapy; the two often work together on the same patient.
Do I need a referral to see this specialist?
For subsidised care at a public hospital you generally need a GP or polyclinic referral; private specialists can usually be seen directly.
How can I verify a doctor’s credentials?
Check the Singapore Medical Council’s Register of Medical Practitioners, and the Register of Specialists for accredited specialists.
Selected research & publications
David Chia has contributed to peer-reviewed research in radiation oncology. A selection of published work:
- Emerging bladder-sparing treatments for high risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer — Bladder Cancer, 2025
- StrataXRT for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials — Support Care Cancer, 2023
- Clinical Outcomes of Dose-escalated Radiotherapy for Localised Prostate Cancer: A Single-institution Experience — In Vivo, 2020
- Efficacy of Palliative Bladder Radiotherapy for Hematuria in Advanced Bladder Cancer Using Contemporary Radiotherapy Techniques — In Vivo, 2019
- Radical radiotherapy in older patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer — J Geriatr Oncol, 2019
- Efficacy of palliative radiation therapy for symptomatic rectal cancer — Radiother Oncol, 2016
Related guides
Sources & verification
Profile details are summarised from the doctor’s official listing (official profile). Registration can be verified on the Singapore Medical Council’s Register of Medical Practitioners, and specialist accreditation on the Register of Specialists.
General information only, not medical advice. Details may change — confirm current clinic, availability and fees with the provider.
See also: our editorial directory of radiation oncologists in Singapore.
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