Prof. Dr. SOH Eugene Fidelis

Transformative Shifts in Healthcare.SG

Over the next decade, we shall see unparalleled transformation in healthcare.  Healthcare in Singapore, a small city-state of 5.64 million population is not to be spared. In 2017, the Global Burden of Disease Survey ranked Singapore highest in life expectancy and top in its progress towards the health-related UN Sustainable Development Goals. In 2018, Bloomberg ranked Singapore second in health care efficiency with a per capita spend of USD2,280. So why change a system that is not broken? Challenges are fast stacking up in countries like Singapore with a rapidly ageing population, rising chronic disease burden, emerging infectious diseases and increasing healthcare costs. For healthcare to stay relevant to our population needs, we must shift our mindsets, shift our healthcare system, shift our workforce and shift our organisational culture in readiness for change. 

We need innovation at scale to drive value for our patients and the population we serve. According to the Future Health Index study amongst 16 countries by Dutch multinational technology company Philips in 2018, Singapore Healthcare offers best value and is the most future-proof. In 2019, the same study focused on digital health and reported that 82% of healthcare professionals in Singapore use digital health technology or mobile health apps. Beyond technology, a systems-based approach to innovation will be key to transforming and sustaining the future of healthcare by integrating Care Redesign, Enabling Technologies and Job Redesign. To scale and sustain innovation, we must first innovate innovation itself.