PROTECTING YOUR WORKFORCE'S DIGESTIVE HEALTH AT THE RIGHT TIME (PART 2): WHEN DOES YOUR COMPANY NEED DIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY?

In the first half of 2026, employee healthcare is shifting from "screening for the sake of screening" to "screening the right person, for the right condition, at the right time" - especially when it comes to digestive disorders. Following on from the noteworthy figures on gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases shared in our previous newsletter, in this Part 2, CarePlus invites your company to learn more about Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - a method widely regarded as the gold standard for screening gastrointestinal diseases and cancers today. 

1/ Common Digestive Issues and Noteworthy Figures Among the Working-Age Population 
Stomach-related conditions are currently among the most common health issues affecting Vietnam's workforce: 

• 70% of the adult population is infected with H. pylori bacteria. 
• 10–15% of adults suffer from Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). 
• 20% of the population has colitis. 
• 3 out of the 5 most common cancers in Vietnam belong to the gastrointestinal group, namely: colorectal, liver, and stomach cancer. 

Source: Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology; VTV, GLOBOCAN 2024 
It is worth noting that most digestive conditions can progress silently for many years. Employees may continue working as usual, yet frequently experience fatigue, difficulty concentrating, or a decline in work performance for no apparent reason. Early detection helps increase the success rate of treatment and reduce long-term sick leave - two factors that directly affect a company's productivity and operating costs. 

2/ Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Services at CarePlus - A Safe and Effective Solution for Businesses 
CarePlus provides gastrointestinal endoscopy services performed by a team of experienced gastrointestinal endoscopy specialists, using modern equipment such as the Pentax gastrointestinal endoscopy system, the Olympus gastrointestinal endoscopy system, and Full HD endoscopes, among others - helping to detect small, hard-to-notice lesions in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum at an early stage. 

Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 
Considered the gold standard for diagnosing digestive diseases and screening for gastrointestinal cancers at an early stage. 

• Diagnostic endoscopy: screens diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract and lower digestive tract, examines precancerous gastric lesions, polyp syndromes, and colorectal cancer, among others. 
• Interventional endoscopy: when an abnormality is detected, the physician performs biopsy sampling, polyp removal, or hemostasis in cases of gastrointestinal bleeding. 

Key Advantages 

• Painless endoscopy makes the procedure more comfortable for the patient. 
• Biopsy support and lesion assessment when necessary. 
• Post-procedure consultation and follow-up provided by specialist physicians. 

3/ Doctor's Recommendation: Where Should Your Company Start? 
To improve the return on investment of employee benefits and proactively protect your workforce, companies should consider adding the following items to their employee health check-up program: 

• Gastric and digestive disease screening. 
• H. pylori bacteria testing. 
• Gastroenterology specialist consultation. 
• Gastrointestinal endoscopy for employees at risk or as recommended by specialist physicians. 

4/ When Should Employees Undergo Gastrointestinal Endoscopy? 
Quite a few employees tend to postpone check-ups due to busy schedules or the assumption that digestive symptoms are merely temporary. This can allow the condition to progress further, leading to higher treatment costs and longer sick leave. Companies should therefore encourage employees to seek medical attention if they experience any of the following signs: 

• Work-related stress accompanied by persistent digestive symptoms (heartburn, acid reflux, bloating, or indigestion lasting several weeks). 
• Over 40 years of age with newly appearing digestive symptoms. 
• A history of Helicobacter pylori infection or treatment. 
• A history of gastric polyps, previous polyp removal, or a family history of stomach cancer. 
• Unexplained weight loss, anemia, vomiting blood, or black/tarry stools. 

Caring for digestive health early not only enables the timely detection of disease but also helps build a healthy, stable, and long-term committed workforce. CarePlus is ready to accompany your company in designing a healthcare program tailored to each employee, in order to optimize the return on benefits investment and support sustainable workforce development - contact us at: corporate@careplusvn.com

CAREPLUS INTERNATIONAL CLINICS  

Associate of Singapore Medical Group