- Singapore’s flagship medical school is doubling down on population health research and technology-enabled solutions to strengthen healthcare systems and prepare tomorrow’s leaders
- The School rebrands its Health Services & Systems Research programme to deliver policy-relevant, tech-driven solutions for a healthier Singapore
- Launches new education pathways to enhance professional capabilities in population health research
Singapore, 05 September 2025—Singapore’s health system is under growing pressure from rising costs, an ageing population, and the growing burden of chronic diseases. Duke-NUS Medical School is responding by sharpening its focus on population health and technology-enabled research — a strategy now being embedded into its rebranded Health Services Research and Population Health (HSRPH) Programme, which aims to harmonise with and shape national policies, improving patient outcomes and delivering more cost-effective care.
(third from left) Guest-of-Honour Professor Lee Chien Earn, Deputy Group CEO, Regional Health System, SingHealth; Professor David Matchar, HSRPH Programme and inaugural Director of HSSR; Professor Patrick Tan, Dean-designate, Duke-NUS Medical School; Professor Marcus Ong, Director of HSRPH; as well as researchers and healthcare leaders spearheading the HSRPH programme // Credit: Duke-NUS Medical School
Examples of such research include: a potentially scalable nationwide model for controlling hypertension, which could be delivered at S$20 per patient per month. Combining algorithm-driven treatment plans for prescribing subsidised medication and motivational follow-up telephone calls from nurses, this approach not only helps patients manage blood pressure but also reduces the risk of heart diseases at a fraction of current costs.
Another example is a Duke-NUS study, in collaboration with SingHealth, that evaluates the cost-effectiveness of a 4 Dimensional Disease Outbreak Surveillance System (4D-DOSS[1]), a novel digital twin system called that functions as a “hospital infection radar” by mapping disease spread across wards. These evaluation findings are now being used to guide implementation at Singapore General Hospital, with expansion to Changi General Hospital (CGH) and other hospitals in the pipeline. (More details on the projects are available in Annex A.)
To empower more healthcare professionals and clinicians to pursue research in population health, the rebranded Health Services Research and Population Health (HSRPH) programme will be launching new education pathways to enhance professional capabilities in this key research area.
Professor Marcus Ong, Director of the Health Services Research & Population Health Programme (HSRPH) at Duke-NUS, explained:
“We are not just studying problems — we are delivering solutions policymakers can use today to keep care affordable and accessible. More high-quality, technology-driven research in population health and health services is urgently needed to inform policies and bring about faster, easier and more affordable access to healthcare.”
To cultivate the next generation of population health researchers, HSRPH is also reviewing its education offerings and plans to offer new postgraduate programmes in Population and Health Services Research. These specialised programmes will equip clinicians and healthcare professionals with advanced technological tools while honing their skills in emerging areas such as health technology and economic assessment. It will also allow them to tap into a nationwide network of clinicians and researchers to foster collaboration and empower them to effect change in healthcare policies and strategies.
Professor Nicholas Graves, Deputy Director of the HSRPH Programme at Duke-NUS and lead in designing the new postgraduate offerings, said:
“We need professionals who can harness technology, drive innovation and work seamlessly with health systems. Our new specialised programmes will grow a dynamic talent pool, cultivating expertise in emerging fields such as quantitative analysis and data science, while unlocking fresh pathways for career advancement.”
The Programme’s new direction will strengthen collaborative efforts between SingHealth and Duke-NUS, bringing together various entities from the SingHealth-Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre and supporting researchers working on population health.
Maximising national health outcomes through collaboration, resource optimisation, and training, this focus on population health will align with Healthier SG, a national initiative by Singapore’s Ministry of Health focusing on preventive health.
Professor Thomas Coffman, Dean of Duke-NUS, said:
“To address Singapore’s healthcare challenges including its ageing population, the Ministry of Health has emphasised the importance of population health through programs such as Healthier SG. To better align with these efforts and to underscore our commitment, we are re-branding the Health Services Research and Population Health programme positioning Duke-NUS to better contribute to transforming population health across Singapore and around the world.”
As Singapore rolls out Healthier SG, the sharpened focus on population health at Duke-NUS ensures that policy-makers and hospitals have access to evidence-based, scalable, and cost-effective solutions. This is in line with the School’s ambition to help Singaporeans live longer, healthier lives while strengthening the nation’s position as a global leader in medical education, biomedical research, and healthcare innovation.
Annex A: Research that touch lives and strengthen communities
No. | Study | Profile/ Interviews available |
1 | ‘SingHypertension’ - Reducing High Blood Pressure using Primary Care Services SingHypertension is a multi-component intervention to help patients lower their blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. It incorporates risk-based treatment by doctors prescribing subsidised generic antihypertensive medications, nurse-led motivational conversations and telephone follow-ups with patients. This approach, estimated at approximately S$20 per participant per month, led to a significant lowering of systolic blood pressure and improvement in blood pressure control after two years of follow up. The use of antihypertensive medications also increased and cardiovascular risk declined. | Interview with study lead investigator, Prof Tazeen Hasan Jafar |
2 | 4D-DOSS (a novel digital twin automated surveillance system) Researchers from Duke-NUS’ Health Services & Systems Research Programme conducted a study to assess the cost-effectiveness of a new infection surveillance system being trialled in a hospital. The system, called 4 Dimensional Disease Outbreak Surveillance System (4D-DOSS), utilises cutting-edge digital twin technology (advanced spatial mapping platforms) and leverages existing healthcare data systems to develop a ‘living’ digital replica or ‘twin’ of a space or system. Such spatial systems can be beneficial for infectious disease surveillance because tracking of these diseases within complex healthcare environments requires data to be represented in space and time, to map out contact networks. *UPDATE: The findings of the study are now used to guide the implementation of 4D-DOSS for infection surveillance in all wards in Singapore General Hospital (SGH). It will also form the basis of roll-out plans at Changi General Hospital and potentially other sites in Singapore. | Interview with senior author of the study, Prof Nicholas Graves
Interview with SGH spokesperson, Dr Indumathi Venkatachalam, Senior Consultant, Department of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology Interview with Clin A/Prof Chow Weien, Chief Data and Digital Officer, CGH and co-Principal Investigator of the DOSS team on how 4D-DOSS enables hospitals to map detailed infrastructure and an automated patient-level data flow for deeper analysis and detailed planning |
3 | myKIDNEY: End-Stage Kidney Disease Interactive Decision Aid for the Elderly This decision aid provides tailored advice for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients aged 70 and above with comorbidities.It aims to help older adults with ESKD and their family caregivers make informed decisions consistent with patient preferences. *UPDATE: The interactive web-based tool is now being used by Singapore General Hospital. | Interview with Duke-NUS PI, Prof Eric Finkelstein SGH spokesperson, A/Prof Lina Choong, Senior Consultant, Department of Renal Medicine |