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Singapore’s Ministry of Health Commits SG$200 Million to AI-Driven Healthcare Innovations

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Health news

The Singaporean Ministry of Health (MOH) has announced a significant investment of SG$200 million (approximately $150 million) over the next five years to enhance the implementation of AI technologies across the country’s healthcare system. This financial boost is part of the MOH Health Innovation Fund, aimed at advancing technological innovations and expanding AI integration into system-wide, national projects. Key Initiatives Supported by the Investment: Generative AI for Record Automation: A major focus of the funding will be a generative AI project designed to automate the updating of medical records. The MOH plans to roll out this project across the public healthcare system by the end of 2025, with the goal of streamlining administrative tasks such as documentation and the summarisation of medical records. AI in Medical Imaging: The MOH will also invest in medical imaging AI for early detection of breast cancer. This technology, currently undergoing validation, is expected to be adopted as part of a national subsidised screening programme by the end of 2025. The initiative will enhance early detection and diagnosis through advanced AI-assisted imaging tools. Broader Trends in Singapore’s AI-Driven Healthcare: Singapore’s healthcare system has been making strides in integrating AI and generative AI (genAI) technologies, backed by the government. The national health tech agency Synapxe has expanded its partnership with Microsoft, working on projects like Secure GPT for Healthcare Professionals, which develops large language models (LLMs) for healthcare applications. The National University Health System (NUHS) has also developed RUSSELL-GPT, an AI chatbot that summarises patient case notes and generates referral letters. Additionally, Singapore General Hospital is exploring genAI use in pre-surgery assessments, and hospitals under SingHealth have adopted chest X-ray analysis AI through AimSG, a national radiology AI platform. The platform, launched last year, allows hospitals to integrate validated AI tools into their workflows. Genetic Testing Programme: The MOH also announced plans to launch a national genetic testing programme by mid-2025, with a focus on Familial Hypercholesterolemia, a genetic condition affecting cholesterol levels. This marks another step towards incorporating advanced technology into personalised healthcare. Strengthening AI Governance: As AI becomes more central to Singapore’s healthcare system, the MOH is committed to improving national governance for AI use in healthcare. The ministry emphasized the need to balance innovation with safety, ensuring that new AI solutions are implemented securely and deliver safe care to patients. Conclusion: Singapore’s investment in AI-driven healthcare innovations demonstrates its forward-thinking approach to enhancing healthcare delivery. With a focus on automation, early detection, and improving overall patient care Source: Business Standard

Singapore-London Partnership Secures $15M to Bolster Healthcare Cybersecurity in APAC

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Singapore is taking proactive measures to address the escalating cybersecurity concerns associated with the integration of medical devices into its health system. Concerns about the growing risks have led to a significant development—a $20 million grant from the National Research Foundation (NRF), Singapore. The grant has been awarded to Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, and Imperial College London for collaborative research aimed at enhancing the protection of health data and wearable devices. Imperial’s newly established overseas research center, Imperial Global: Singapore, is partnering with NTU researchers on the IN-CYPHER program. The initiative focuses on tackling existing security challenges and safeguarding emerging sensing technologies and their data from potential compromises. The four-year grant, totaling $15 million, aims to position Singapore as a global leader in health cybersecurity and AI for healthcare. Professor Anil Anthony Bharath from Imperial, co-leading the IN-CYPHER program with Professor Liu Yang of NTU Singapore, highlighted the need for heightened cybersecurity measures as healthcare embraces more data and technology. The research will specifically address security concerns related to various medical devices, including continuous glucose monitors, smart electronic skin patches, and activity monitors. With around 15% of medical devices in Singapore’s public health facilities connected to networks, the increased connectivity raises cybersecurity risks, potentially compromising patient data and disrupting treatment protocols. To counteract these risks, Singapore’s Cyber Security Agency introduced the Cybersecurity Labelling Scheme for Medical Devices, encouraging a security-by-design approach among manufacturers. A recent report by the Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association and L.E.K. Consulting emphasized the importance of a customized assessment of medical devices for remote care based on their risk level. The cybersecurity landscape in the Asia-Pacific region is evolving, prompting the need for tailored frameworks to support remote care management and protect patient data. The market for cybersecurity in medical devices is anticipated to grow, projected to reach $1.1 billion by 2027. Meanwhile, the IN-CYPHER program marks a significant step for Imperial Global: Singapore, contributing to the rapid scaling of scientific breakthroughs and technology for commercialization across Southeast Asia. The research center builds on the longstanding partnership between NTU Singapore and Imperial College London, further strengthening academic ties in healthcare and technological innovation.