Singapore forges ahead with digital health initiatives to address healthcare workforce shortages
In Singapore, healthcare leaders and young professionals are uniting under a common goal: to create a more integrated and sustainable healthcare system, leveraging digital technologies. This ambition aligns with findings from the Future Health Index 2023 report by Royal Philips, highlighting Singapore’s dedicated efforts in digital health transformation. These findings reflect broader trends observed across the Asia-Pacific region.
A critical driving force behind this digital push is the projected need for an additional 24,000 allied health professionals and support care staff by 2030, as forecasted by Singapore’s Ministry of Health. This need arises from the growing demands of the nation’s ageing population.
A survey involving 200 senior healthcare executives and young clinicians in Singapore revealed that 75% are either already utilising or planning to adopt digital health technology. This strategic move aims to mitigate the impact of the looming workforce shortage in healthcare. Technologies such as cloud-based solutions, out-of-hospital care innovations, and workflow technologies like digital health records and patient flow automation are at the forefront of this digital transition.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is recognised as a key area of opportunity, with a quarter of respondents currently investing in AI technologies. Over the next three years, a significant 84% have pledged investment in health AI, particularly favouring applications in outcome prediction and clinical decision support.
For young healthcare professionals, the prospect of working in an AI-enabled institution is highly attractive. Furthermore, about half of the healthcare leaders surveyed are investing in virtual care, acknowledged for its substantial role in enhancing patient care.
Singaporean healthcare leaders are also adapting to technology-driven distributed models of care, with about two-thirds of respondents considering themselves well-prepared to work effectively within these new frameworks. These models are anticipated to bring improved work-life balance and job satisfaction for healthcare professionals. They are expected to boost patient compliance with treatment, create additional revenue opportunities, and enhance efficiency and convenience for patients.
In the broader context, Singapore’s commitment to integrating AI in healthcare is further evidenced by the recent memorandum of understanding between Synapxe, its national health technology agency, and Microsoft. This collaboration aims to use generative AI to increase clinical productivity, among other initiatives to modernise public healthcare IT in the country.
Additionally, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore’s leading research and development agency, has launched a joint AI lab with health tech company EVYD Technology. This lab is designed to foster multi-institutional and cross-border collaborations in digital health, underpinning Singapore’s robust approach towards embracing digital solutions in healthcare.