As the healthcare sector undergoes a remarkable digital transformation it is becoming more interconnected, and data-driven. The digitalisation of healthcare balances innovations on one hand and risks and challenges on another. Digital health solutions are addressing the issues encountered by the traditional healthcare model, known for its reliance on paper-based records, fragmented communication, and limited availability of timely information. The digitalisation of healthcare encompasses seamless data exchange and application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to enhance clinical decision-making and remote consultations that make healthcare more accessible. The transformative impact of digitalisation has been observed in healthcare administration as well as diagnostic, treatment, and research. Regardless of the transformative impact of digitalisation, there are existing and anticipated risks related to data privacy, ethics and patient safety that policymakers are addressing globally.

This paper is a culmination of the presentations and discussions that took place in the  National University of Singapore (NUS) Initiative to Improve Health in Asia (NIHA) policy forum held on 21 July 2023, with a focus on the readiness of Asia-Pacific health systems, governments, and populations to embrace the opportunities and challenges of digital health. This paper will clarify the concept of digitalisation of healthcare sector, describe the key components of the digital transformation journey of Singapore, discuss the digital health regulatory framework in Singapore and provide recommendations for addressing the identified regulatory challenges. 

Authors
Dr Kavitha Palaniappan
Dr Chandrani Ghosh
Dr Praveen Kumar Gideon
A/Prof Silke Vogel

With contributions from
Prof John CW Lim