“Singapore Is Uniquely Positioned As Asias Health Hub,” Says Health Tech CEO Dr. SueAnne Toh

Produced by SilverKris for NOVI Health

In this opinion essay, CEO of NOVI Health, a Singapore-based health technology startup, Dr. Sue-Anne Toh highlights Singapore's unique strengths as a healthcare hub and key trends that will shape digital health in the region and beyond.

As a Singapore-based CEO and healthcare technology professional, I have witnessed the incredible growth and transformation of the healthcare sector in this city-state over the past few years. Singapore has emerged as a leading healthcare technology hub and is uniquely positioned to promote innovative digital health solutions and key trends in the region. Not surprisingly, Singapore has attracted one of the largest digital health venture capital transactions in Asia.

One of Singapore's greatest strengths as a healthcare hub is its ethnic and cosmopolitan population. Research abroad shows that minority groups face disparities in access to health care. This is often due to the lack of familiarity with the service provider's language and culture. Due to the city's multi-ethnic and multicultural social fabric, Singapore provides a rich environment for developing healthcare solutions that meet the needs of diverse communities.

We have access to a wealth of data—a true "living laboratory," if you will—that helps us tailor solutions for people with diverse backgrounds and needs. Its concentrated geography enables efficient recruitment of participants for large-scale research and clinical trials.

For example, we have been able to conduct large studies of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes by recruiting thousands of participants across the country to perform "gold standard" physiological tests at one medical center. Achieving such breadth and depth would be difficult even in countries where the biomedical research landscape is mature and well established, such as the US or the UK.

Due to the city's multi-ethnic and multicultural social fabric, Singapore provides a rich environment for developing healthcare solutions that meet the needs of diverse communities.

High health literacy in Singapore plays a major role in the rapid adoption and understanding of health technology innovations. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this phenomenon: the need for remote consultations, telemedicine and digital health platforms is becoming more and more apparent, driving the development of these technologies and their use by healthcare providers such as NOVI Health . This rapid adoption of healthcare technology has undoubtedly led to changes in consumer and patient behavior.

Today, consumers expect the same level of healthcare experience, service and transparency of information as they do shopping for other products. Although health care inequities persist, information asymmetry between patients and health care providers is decreasing.

Technology has the potential to overcome this information asymmetry and increase transparency in healthcare. With health information more accessible than ever, consumers are better informed about options, prices and more. I think it will be a transformative change. But this accessibility also creates challenges. It is important to ensure that available information is balanced and verified to avoid misinformation.

We also see a positive trend towards value-based services. Currently, healthcare operates on a fee-for-service model, where payment is based on individual visits, medications and tests. However, it is increasingly recognized that this model can lead doctors to perform unnecessary tests and treatments.

Today, the focus is on value creation, defined as achieving the best results at a reasonable cost. For example, if one doctor can achieve the same or better results in one visit, while another doctor charges his patients 10 visits or higher costs, the former offers better value for money. The movement is already gaining momentum, and the next step is to figure out how to implement it on a larger scale.

Healthcare efficiency not only improves patient access to essential services, but also frees up more time so healthcare providers can focus on providing personalized care.

Over the next decade, I believe technology will play a critical role in improving access to healthcare. People can access healthcare services not only by visiting hospitals but also through mobile healthcare solutions. Healthcare will be personalized, holistic, not episodic, and I am excited to lead that responsibility with NOVI Health. Through our app, users can track their lifestyle and receive feedback, personalized advice and support from a health coach.

I also hope that technologies such as artificial intelligence can improve the services provided by healthcare professionals and reduce the workload of healthcare professionals such as doctors and nutritionists. Healthcare efficiency not only improves patient access to essential services, but also frees up more time so healthcare providers can focus on providing personalized care. This can significantly improve areas of healthcare that require human intervention, providing better patient experiences and outcomes.

Finally, I am inspired by the future of healthcare technology in Singapore. With continued advances in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and wearables, the opportunities for innovation and improvement in healthcare are endless. I believe that as a health technology hub, Singapore has the potential to transform healthcare in the country, while at the same time leading the way in developing tailor-made solutions for diverse global populations.

To learn more about NOVI Health, visit the official website .

Lawrence Wong DPM Nikkei 28th Asia Future Forum