Dr Gan Eng Cern is an ENT specialist whose practice focuses on nose and sinus conditions, including endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery. He pursued subspecialty training in rhinology and endoscopic skull base surgery at St Paul’s Sinus Centre in Vancouver, Canada. He practises at his clinic in Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and has held academic and society roles including Senior Clinical Lecturer at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.
Clinical focus
Rhinology / sinus & allergy.
Qualifications (as publicly listed)
MBBS (Australia), MRCS (Edinburgh), MMed (ORL), FAMS (ORL).
Where they practise
- Clinic / practice: Dr Gan Eng Cern ENT Clinic (see our clinic listing) — Novena
- Hospital / training affiliation(s): Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital
Getting to the clinic
Dr Gan Eng Cern practises at the Dr Gan Eng Cern ENT Clinic at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital on Irrawaddy Road, within the Novena medical district. The nearest station is Novena MRT (NS20) on the North-South line, a short ride from the city and Orchard. From the station, the Novena medical cluster is a short, largely sheltered walk through the surrounding developments.
Buses run along Thomson Road and Irrawaddy Road nearby. If you arrive by car or taxi, Mount Elizabeth Novena has a paid visitor carpark, with taxi and ride-hailing drop-off at the hospital entrance. As the Novena area links several connected medical buildings, check the clinic suite and level on your appointment confirmation, and allow time to park during busier clinic hours.
What rhinology covers
Rhinology is the branch of ENT focused on the nose and sinuses, and Dr Gan’s stated focus also includes allergy and endoscopic skull base surgery. Common conditions include chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal polyps, a deviated septum, recurrent sinus infections, nosebleeds, and the blockage, runny nose and itch of allergic rhinitis. These problems can affect breathing, sleep, sense of smell and overall quality of life.
Endoscopic sinus surgery uses a thin camera passed through the nostrils to open blocked sinuses without external cuts, and the same minimally invasive approach extends to the skull base, the region behind the nose where the sinuses meet the brain. Allergy care addresses the triggers behind a blocked or runny nose, combining avoidance measures, medicines and, where appropriate, allergy testing and immunotherapy. Treatment usually starts with medical measures, with surgery considered when symptoms persist or when there is a structural problem. Because nasal and sinus symptoms often overlap with allergy, sleep and sense of smell, care takes the whole picture into account, and treatment is matched to whether the main driver is infection, inflammation, allergy or a structural narrowing, with the least invasive effective approach tried first. Where surgery is needed, the endoscopic approach through the nostrils avoids external incisions and aims to restore normal drainage and airflow while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.
What to expect at a consultation
A first visit usually begins with a history of your nasal symptoms, their duration and triggers, any allergies, previous nasal surgery and the treatments you have tried. The specialist will examine the nose, often using a nasal endoscope, a thin camera that gives a clear view inside the nasal passages and sinus openings.
Depending on the findings, investigations may include allergy testing, a CT scan of the sinuses to map the anatomy, or a sense-of-smell assessment. The specialist will explain the diagnosis and discuss options, which often begin with nasal sprays, rinses or allergy treatment, with surgery considered when symptoms persist despite these measures or where structural problems need correcting.
Preparing for your appointment
- Photo identification and any GP or polyclinic referral letter.
- Previous nasal or sinus scan reports and earlier ENT records.
- A list of current medicines, including nasal sprays, and any allergy test results.
- Details of known allergy triggers and how symptoms vary through the day or seasons.
- A written note of symptoms such as blockage, discharge, loss of smell, facial pain or nosebleeds.
- Details of how symptoms affect your sleep and breathing through the day.
- Any previous sinus or nasal surgery and how well it helped.
- Questions you would like to ask about treatment or surgery.
After your consultation and follow-up
You may leave with a treatment plan, prescriptions or a request for scans or allergy testing, with a review to assess progress. Many nasal and sinus conditions are managed over several visits, adjusting sprays, rinses or allergy treatment before deciding whether surgery is needed. If surgery is recommended, the clinic will explain the procedure, recovery and follow-up, which usually includes nasal cleaning and review appointments to keep the sinuses clear while they heal.
Continuity helps with conditions such as chronic rhinosinusitis and allergy, which can recur. You may seek a second opinion at any time. Seek urgent attention for a nosebleed that will not stop, sudden severe facial swelling, visual changes, or a high fever with severe facial pain.
Booking, referrals and fees
As a private clinic, you can usually book without a referral, though a GP or polyclinic referral may help with subsidies if you are later seen at a public clinic. MediSave, MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plans may apply to eligible surgical procedures within set limits, while consultations are generally out of pocket. Costs vary with the tests and treatment involved, so confirm fees directly with the clinic when booking.
Common questions
What is chronic rhinosinusitis?
It is long-lasting inflammation of the nose and sinuses, causing blockage, discharge, facial pressure and reduced smell, often managed with sprays and rinses before surgery is considered.
Do nasal polyps come back?
Polyps can recur, which is why ongoing medical treatment and review are important even after surgery.
Can allergy testing help?
Identifying triggers through allergy testing can guide avoidance measures and treatment for a persistently blocked or runny nose.
Do I need a referral?
As a private clinic you can usually book directly, though a GP or polyclinic referral may help with subsidies at a public clinic.
Related guides
Sources & verification
See also: our editorial directory of ENT specialists in Singapore and our shortlist of ENT clinics.
This is an independent, factual profile compiled from the public sources listed above — not a paid listing, advertisement or endorsement. Details can change; always verify a doctor’s current registration on the Singapore Medical Council public register and confirm specifics directly with the clinic. This page is general information, not medical advice or a recommendation of any individual practitioner. See our editorial policy.
Don’t agree with this listing? If this is your profile and you’d like the details corrected, updated or removed — or you’d like to be featured — please reach out to us or use our contact form. We’ll sort it out quickly.