In more detail
Background
The ITM for healthcare was first launched in 2017, under which the MOH laid out its vision to champion a healthy nation in view of the ageing population, increasing chronic disease burden, slower workforce growth and rising healthcare costs.
With the launch of the ITM 2025, the MOH has placed a stronger focus on transforming the health of Singapore's population through innovative and sustainable strategies.
Strengthening Singapore's research and innovation ecosystem
MOH aims to strengthen Singapore's research and innovation ecosystem to better drive and support enhancements in health. This will be implemented through the following:
- Revamping the Healthy 365 and HealthHub digital apps
- Leveraging data more effectively for health research
- Employing the national clinical translational programmes and translational platforms, which aim to accelerate clinical adoption of value-based healthcare and support health systems transformation
Strengthening digital system enablers
MOH has announced that it is working on addressing new and emerging regulatory issues in healthcare by implementing the Healthcare Services Act and introducing the Health Information Bill.
In particular, the MOH has recognised that with advancements in telemedicine and telehealth services, there is an increased push to enable access to professional quality care in non-traditional healthcare settings such as in patients' homes and more opportunities to deliver greater customised and personalised care such as personalised health plans and precision medicine.
In response, the MOH has enhanced efforts in digitalisation and productivity, including strengthening information technology (IT) and digital system enablers and regulatory frameworks, to support the transformation of care models and approaches.
You may access our articles on the Healthcare Service Act here and on the Health Information Bill here.
Attracting and retaining healthcare workers
To meet current and future workforce needs of Singapore's ageing population, the MOH will redouble its efforts to attract and retain healthcare workers, such as the following:
- Enhancing recruitment efforts, especially in nursing and support care
- Redesigning jobs to make support care roles more appealing
- Refocusing on primary and preventive health in medical training
- Continuing to nurture the healthcare workforce
Strengthening partnerships
The MOH will also work with agencies, public healthcare bodies and academic institutions to strengthen Singapore's internationalisation strategies.
This will involve supporting promising locally based enterprises to develop and test their innovations locally and scale them globally. This will enable MOH to bring in validated and cost-effective global innovations that can benefit the local healthcare system.
* * * * *
© 2023 Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow. All rights reserved. Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow is incorporated with limited liability and is a member firm of Baker & McKenzie International, a global law firm with member law firms around the world. In accordance with the common terminology used in professional service organizations, reference to a "principal" means a person who is a partner, or equivalent, in such a law firm. Similarly, reference to an "office" means an office of any such law firm. This may qualify as "Attorney Advertising" requiring notice in some jurisdictions. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
