The majority of Singaporeans may be unfamiliar with technology that can help them monitor and take control of their health, but they are equally open to using it.
A survey conducted by insurance firm Cigna reported that average Singaporeans are keen on healthcare technology.
According to findings by Dutch technology firm Philips, only 29 per cent of Singaporeans say they are knowledgeable about such “connected care technology” such as home health-monitoring devices and fitness trackers. At the same time, they are optimistic about its role in healthcare, with 77 per cent agreeing that such technology is important for improving the population’s overall health.
The survey by Philips, named the Future Health Index, assessed the ability of healthcare systems in 19 countries to cope with problems such as an ageing population and higher costs.
The Philips survey also measured the perception locals had of their healthcare systems versus the reality in those systems in three areas: access to healthcare, integration of healthcare systems and adoption of connected care technology.
Philips ASEAN Pacific chief executive, Caroline Clarke remarked that Singaporeans believe they have enough healthcare resources but however, new models of healthcare that links patients and doctors could lead to a better health control.
Kang Soon-Hock, head of the social science core at the Singapore University of Social Sciences’ school of arts and social sciences, said technology can help to bring down healthcare costs to be more affordable.
There were experts, however, who felt that some of the technology was as yet unproven, such as fitness trackers, and was therefore not widely used.
Cigna Singapore’s chief executive Lena Tsia added that growing availability of technological means to track one’s health – from step trackers to medication reminder apps – bodes well for Singaporeans’ health in the long term.
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Source: The Straits Times, 15 June 2017