Philips Future Health Index 2024 Singapore Report: Singapore’s healthcare sector at the forefront of generative AI investments and AI technology implementation to optimize operational efficiencies

The ninth edition of the report, which surveyed nearly 3,000 healthcare leaders in 14 countries, including Singapore, found that healthcare leaders are focusing on improving operational efficiencies through data integration and AI-enabled innovation to improve patient care amidst increasing pressures due to workforce shortages, financial challenges, and growing demand.

Amid Singapore’s healthcare talent crunch, the FHI found that half of the healthcare leaders (50%) are seeing increased burnout, stress, mental health issues, deteriorating work-life balance and low morale among existing staff. 60% of healthcare leaders are also concerned about staff shortages resulting in delays in care for patients, whether it is due to increased waiting lists for appointments (41%), longer waiting times for treatments or procedures (35%), or delayed/limited access to screening, diagnosis, and preventive care (32%).

79% of healthcare leaders in Singapore also highlighted that financial challenges are impacting their organization’s ability to provide timely, high quality-care. They acknowledge that improving operational efficiencies is the best way to overcome these financial challenges, with 64% of them already implementing such solutions at their organization.

In Singapore, almost all healthcare leaders (96%) see opportunities for data-driven insights to improve care at their organization, improve healthcare access and reduce disparities in healthcare outcomes across communities.

However, 84% also reported that they experience at least one data integration challenge which impacts care provided to patients. This leads to increased operational costs due to inefficiencies (36%), limited coordination between care providers/departments (35%), and increased risk of errors, reduced patient safety and/or quality of care (35%).

To provide better patient care to Singaporeans, healthcare leaders are thinking of ways to address challenges by first pinpointing the aspects that need improvement, which include data security/privacy (44%), the accuracy of data (42%), full patient access to their own health data (40%), and interoperability between platforms/healthcare settings (38%).

Singapore’s healthcare sector continues to have appetite for AI, with healthcare leaders already looking at the next frontier. Currently, the three biggest areas of AI implementation for clinical decision support are in in-hospital patient monitoring (67%), medication management (64%) and treatment planning (61%).

Generative AI is also taking off, with Singapore being ahead of the curve. 89% of Singaporean healthcare leaders said they are currently investing or planning to invest in generative AI within the next 12 months, higher than global average of 62%. In fact, more than a third (37%) are currently investing in generative AI, highlighting their recognition of the benefits that it could bring to patient care.

While there is widespread excitement about the possibilities of AI, healthcare leaders are cognizant of the areas of concern that come with its use, including data bias. More than half of leaders find it important to ensure staff diversity in data and AI (51% vs 38% globally), to make AI transparent and interpretable for healthcare professionals (48%, same as global) and to have policies for the ethical use of data and AI (42%, on par with global at 43%). This can only be realized through cross-sector collaboration and coalition building.

“We understand that data and AI will play an even bigger role in the digital transformation of Singapore’s healthcare system. At Philips, we are committed to partnering with healthcare providers on this journey, leveraging our innovation across imaging, interventional and monitoring elevated by our AI and informatics capabilities. It is only through such partnerships within the ecosystem that patient care, workflow, and productivity can be improved,” added Dr Burby.

Philips has been working with its partners in Singapore and the APAC region on new business models and engaging in long-term strategic partnerships to innovate care delivery. Being aware that services, upgrades, sustainable innovations, and practices as well as training and education are key to the long-term success of digital transformation, Philips offers integrated and comprehensive suites of systems, smart devices, software, and services, to address the specific pain points faced by healthcare providers and ultimately help unleash the full possibilities of digital transformation.