Clin Asst Prof Vijo Poulose is a respiratory physician in the Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine at Changi General Hospital. Areas of clinical focus include critical care.
Clinical focus
critical care.
Qualifications (as publicly listed)
MBBS, Board Certified (USA) in Internal Medicine, FAMS (Singapore)
Where they practise
Vijo Poulose practises at Changi General Hospital, in the Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine. See the official profile linked below for current clinic and appointment details.
About Respiratory Medicine
Respiratory (pulmonary) medicine treats conditions of the lungs and breathing. Respiratory physicians manage asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic cough and breathlessness, pneumonia and other chest infections, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, and sleep-related breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea. Assessment may include lung-function tests (spirometry), a chest X-ray or CT, bronchoscopy and sleep studies. Treatment ranges from inhalers and medication to oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation and, for sleep apnoea, CPAP.
Conditions and treatments commonly covered
Areas commonly seen in respiratory medicine include:
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Chronic cough and breathlessness
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
- Lung infections and pneumonia
- Lung nodules and lung cancer
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 respiratory physician 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 a respiratory physician?
For persistent cough or breathlessness, poorly controlled asthma, loud snoring with pauses in breathing or daytime sleepiness, or an abnormal chest X-ray or lung nodule.
What is a lung-function test?
Spirometry measures how much and how fast you can breathe out; it helps diagnose and monitor asthma and COPD and is quick and painless.
How is sleep apnoea diagnosed?
Usually with a sleep study, which can often be done at home; treatment may include CPAP, a dental device or lifestyle measures.
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
Vijo Poulose has contributed to peer-reviewed research in respiratory medicine. A selection of published work:
- Classification of Small Airways — Chest, 2022
- Incidence of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Pneumonitis in Lung Cancer — Chest, 2022
- Residual Lung Defects Among Survivors of Severe COVID-19 Infection — Chest, 2022
- Early versus late proning in non-intubated COVID-19 pneumonia — Crit Care, 2021
- Approaching chronic cough — Singapore Med J, 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 respiratory physicians in Singapore.
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