Giving time back: How Singapore General Hospital is advancing patient care through sustainable MRI innovation
- Aug 29, 2026
- 3 minute read
This story is done in collaboration with CNA and first published on CNA Homepage - Singapore
As demand for medical imaging continues to grow, radiology departments are looking at how technology can help them deliver timely care while making better use of limited resources.
At Singapore General Hospital (SGH), around 50,000 MRI scans are performed each year. The hospital has introduced AI-enabled and helium-free MRI systems as part of its approach to managing growing imaging demand, improving the patient experience and supporting its sustainability efforts.
Improving patient experience through AI-enabled imaging
MRI examinations require patients to remain still while a series of detailed images are captured. For older adults, people experiencing pain or those who experience claustrophobia, spending less time in the scanner can make a meaningful difference to the experience. AI-enabled image reconstruction can help MRI scans be completed in less time while maintaining the diagnostic image quality clinicians require. For these patients, it means shorter examinations and a more pleasant experience. For radiography teams, reducing scan times can help efficiently support more patients as demand grows.
Reducing reliance on a finite resource
MRI systems rely on liquid helium to cool their magnets. As helium is a finite resource, reducing reliance on it can support more sustainable and resilient imaging services.
Helium-free MRI systems use a small, sealed amount of helium and eliminate the need for routine refills. Their smaller footprint, lighter design and no requirement for a quench pipe can also provide greater installation flexibility, particularly in space-constrained healthcare environments.
Energy-saving features and upgradeable designs can further reduce resource use, extend equipment life and help reduce waste.
Seeing these approaches in practice at SGH
The Partners for Better Care series with CNA's Business Blueprint takes viewers inside SGH to see how these approaches are being applied in patient care.
Featuring perspectives from Assoc. Prof. Andrew Tan, Chairman, Division of Radiological Services, Singapore General Hospital; Dr. David Wen, Consultant, Department of Neuroradiology, Singapore General Hospital; and Andy Lim, Country Manager, Philips Singapore, the story looks at what advances in MRI can mean in practice – from the patient experience and radiology workflows to the environmental impact of medical imaging.
Watch the CNA Business Blueprint feature here: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/watch/business-blueprint-partners-better-care
