Adj A/Prof Thong Yu Hor Bernard is an allergist in the Department of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Areas of clinical focus include drug allergy & anaphylaxis / clinical immunology.
Clinical focus
drug allergy & anaphylaxis / clinical immunology.
Qualifications (as publicly listed)
MBBS (NUS, Singapore) 1994, MRCP (UK) (RCP, United Kingdom) 1998, FAMS (Academy of Medicine, Singapore) 2002, FRCPEd (RCP, Edinburgh, United Kingdom) 2009
Where they practise
Thong Yu Hor Bernard practises at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, in the Department of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology. See the official profile linked below for current clinic and appointment details.
About Allergy & Immunology
Allergy and clinical immunology is the care of allergic conditions and disorders of the immune system. Specialists diagnose and treat allergic rhinitis (nose allergy) and sinus symptoms, asthma, eczema and hives (urticaria), food and drug allergies, insect-sting allergy, and anaphylaxis, as well as immune conditions such as recurrent infections and immunodeficiency. Assessment may include a careful history, skin-prick or blood (specific IgE) testing, and sometimes supervised challenge testing. Treatment ranges from allergen avoidance and medication to allergen immunotherapy (desensitisation) for suitable patients, and an adrenaline auto-injector plan for those at risk of severe reactions. Both adults and children can be affected, and care is often shared with other specialists.
Conditions and treatments commonly covered
Areas commonly seen in allergy & immunology include:
- Allergic rhinitis (nose allergy) and sinus symptoms
- Asthma
- Eczema and hives (urticaria)
- Food allergy
- Drug allergy
- Anaphylaxis and immunodeficiency
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 allergist 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
When should I see an allergy specialist?
For troublesome or persistent allergies — nose or eye symptoms, asthma, eczema or hives, suspected food or drug allergy, or any severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), and for recurrent infections that may point to an immune problem.
What does allergy testing involve?
Usually a careful history plus skin-prick testing or a blood test for specific IgE; in some cases a carefully supervised challenge test is done to confirm or exclude an allergy.
Can allergies be cured?
Many are managed rather than cured, but allergen immunotherapy (desensitisation) can provide long-term improvement for suitable patients, and some childhood allergies are outgrown.
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
Thong Yu Hor Bernard has contributed to peer-reviewed research in allergy & immunology. A selection of published work:
- Immediate hypersensitivity to herbal medicine: from diagnosis to policies — Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol, 2026
- Validation of the PEN-FAST Penicillin Allergy Clinical Decision Rule in an Asian Cohort — Clin Exp Allergy, 2026
- Understanding the uncommon: Insights into thymoma associated immunodeficiency — Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol, 2026
- Development of immediate and chronic spontaneous urticaria following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination: Tolerability of revaccination and immunological study — Ann Acad Med Singap, 2024
- Uncovering the true burden of hereditary angioedema due to C1-inhibitor deficiency: A focus on the Asia-Pacific region — J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2024
- Drug-induced Stevens Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: Interpreting the systematic reviews on immunomodulatory therapies — Asia Pac Allergy, 2023
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 allergists in Singapore.
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