Dear Reader,

The phenomenon of rapid ageing in many Asian countries is a pressing concern. Singapore’s ageing population (aged 65 and above) has risen sharply from one in ten in 2010 to one in six in 2020—with projections of nearly one in four by 2030. This rapid demographic shift introduces a host of challenges, including strained healthcare systems and escalating costs, driving an even greater urgency for innovation.

As an academic medical centre, our response to these challenges is grounded in a multifaceted approach: leveraging advanced technology, enhancing collaboration and embracing continuous learning. 

The release of new MyChart features on the OneNUHS App empowers our patients to actively participate in their health management, such as using the App to check their test results and respond to questionnaires. The App also streamlines communication and patient management by allowing clinical staff to send report templates, enrol patients into care plans and request self-tracking of vitals.

With data analytics and predictive modelling—powered by our new Prescience supercomputer—we can now accurately forecast patient journeys by analysing data from over a quarter of a million patients. Proprietary Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tools developed by us, like CalSense and SMILE AI, have expedited the diagnostic process for hypercalcemia and oral diseases, respectively, allowing timely and improved treatment outcomes. In parallel, the automation of many routine administrative tasks is enabling our hospital staff to increasingly focus on direct patient care.

We recognise that partnerships can turbocharge the development of medical advancements, technologies and practices that are of immense value to all nations involved. In this spirit, the inaugural University Hospital Health Summit 2023 (UHHS2023), which we co-organised with the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital—a leading university hospital in South Korea—in October this year, saw experts sharing insights into the latest healthcare developments.

The objective of the event was to lay the groundwork for a more robust Asian hospital network that could birth more practical, localised solutions. Our recent tele-surgery trial with Japanese clinician-scientists represents such cross-border initiatives, potentially making remote surgeries a reality and broadening access to specialised care in underserved regions.

At NUH we grow through continuous learning and knowledge sharing. Over the past two decades, we have welcomed and trained more than 900 clinicians from across the globe as part of our clinical fellowship scheme. The recent launch of the Global Fellows Alliance at UHHS2023 offers a platform for these fellows to interact, collaborate on innovative healthcare projects, and further medical knowledge regionally and globally.

We hope you will enjoy this issue of EnvisioningHealth—Changing Lives One Idea at a Time.

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