Sep 04, 2020

Philips and Singapore General Hospital to establish a Digital and Computational Pathology Center of Excellence

SGH aims to develop the first fully digitized histopathology laboratory in ASEAN by expanding the use of Philips IntelliSite Pathology Solution, potentially saving over 12,000 hours every year
Philips Singapore and SGH will optimize digital pathology use to facilitate research in artificial intelligence (AI)

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, and Singapore General Hospital (SGH) today announced that they will work together to establish the Singapore General Hospital Digital and Computational Pathology Center of Excellence. The SGH Center of Excellence aims to advance pathology practice by implementing a fully digital histopathology workflow and deploying artificial intelligence (AI) to increase productivity and enhance patient care.

Located within SGH’s Division of Pathology, one of the largest pathology laboratories in ASEAN, the Center of Excellence aims to establish ASEAN’s first fully digitized histopathology laboratory by expanding its digital pathology capabilities for primary diagnosis, training, and R&D with the Philips IntelliSite Pathology Solution. Both SGH and Philips will also work closely on other diverse areas, including streamlining of the histopathology laboratory’s digital workflow.

A recent study, conducted by SGH and Philips, revealed that full digitization of SGH’s histopathology laboratory with the Philips IntelliSite Pathology Solution has the potential to save over 12,000 hours every year.

Through optimization of digital pathology at SGH, the hospital will be able to further its research in AI. AI-based tools can aid pathologists in diagnosing diseases such as cancer, which is the leading cause of mortality in Singapore¹, and empower them to face the current challenges in pathology. The increasing number of cancer cases, an aging population, and rapid advances in personalized medicine have resulted in significant increases in the complexity of pathological diagnostics and the workload of pathologists. AI will allow pathologists to focus more on challenging tasks and unusual cases that require a higher degree of expertise and skills.

“We have always attempted to transform our processes and capabilities in anticipation of evolving circumstances and the needs of our patients. As healthcare becomes more complex and demanding, digitization has become a key enabler for the Hospital to provide better care for our patients and to be more efficient,” said Prof. Kenneth Kwek, Chief Executive Officer at SGH. “Digital pathology is an example and our partnership with companies such as Philips with the clinical and technical know-how is important in helping us achieve our goal.”

“Digital pathology will enhance the quality and efficiency of a histopathology laboratory,” said Diederik Zeven, General Manager, Health Systems, Philips ASEAN Pacific. “We are committed to partnering with leading healthcare institutions like Singapore General Hospital to bring the latest in precision diagnoses and AI capabilities to help them augment clinical quality, improving patient outcomes and thereby reducing the cost of care.”

Philips IntelliSite Pathology Solution enables pathologists to review and interpret digital images of surgical pathology slides prepared from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples. This technology replaces the need for traditional glass slides to be viewed under a microscope, and facilitates referencing and storage. Ultimately, digital images allow the application of computer-aided image analysis with AI.

¹https://www.moh.gov.sg/resources-statistics/singapore-health-facts/principal-causes-of-death

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2019 sales of EUR 19.5 billion and employs approximately 81,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter

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