Singapore's Health Promotion Board has partnered with several technology companies to pilot program that aim to promote self-health management by delivering data-driven, personalized recommendations for preventing and managing chronic diseases.
Despite having one of the longest life expectancies in the world, Singapore faces a unique combination of difficulties. The healthcare system and public health are seriously threatened by the rising incidence of chronic illnesses. About 1 in 9 Singaporeans who are 18 years of age or older have diabetes, and the percentage is predicted to increase, according to the Ministry of Health. Furthermore, the nation's biggest cause of mortality is cardiovascular disease.
Pre-diabetic people or those with a high body mass index will be the focus of Abbott's DigiCoach initiative in collaboration with Health2Sync, a Taiwanese company that develops a digital diabetes platform, reports Healthcare IT News.
In order to give customers near real-time information and help them understand how their blood glucose levels impact their diet and physical activity, it incorporates Abbott's FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitor, which will be coupled with Health2Sync's mobile app. Furthermore, the program's digital coaching component will help pilot participants modify their lifestyles to better control their blood sugar.
HealthTrack SG, another initiative with Google, will help users manage hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, or hypertension.
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The program will use Fitbit fitness trackers to gather clinical data, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, as well as lifestyle data, such as step count, physical activity level, and sleep quality, in collaboration with Fullerton Health and digital health tech company ConnectedLife. Google and ConnectedLife will combine these data into an online dashboard for physicians and incorporate it into a companion mobile application.
Additionally, the mobile app will offer advice and prods to help users make lifestyle changes that have been approved by Fullerton Health physicians.
In order to assist Singaporeans take greater control of their health, the HPB, which oversees the country's national health promotion and disease prevention initiatives, has looked to industry partnerships to test out innovative ideas.
Up to 6,000 Singaporeans are anticipated to participate in the agency's most recent pilot programs, according to a statement. Sign-up for the 10-month DigiCoach by Abbott and Health2Sync program started in July, and the Google-ConnectedLife project, which will last for a year, will begin in the first half of 2025.
These programs are also expected to provide HPB data-driven insights into the health concerns and lifestyle risks of Singaporean people. "All data collected will be protected and stored according to Singapore’s data privacy and security laws," it assured.
Additionally, HPB is exploring the potential to scale the programs to more Singaporeans once proven effective and feasible.
