Regional collaboration critical as ASEAN invests in digital transformation to future-proof healthcare systems: 2nd ASEAN Digital Public Health Conference
- Written by Media Outreach
- 3 key themes that emerged across 1.5 days of keynote addresses and panel discussions were the pressing need for greater collaboration across the region and sectors; greater investment in research; and the perennial need for funding
- Conference gathered over 60 prominent moderators and speakers, including ASEAN Ministers, policymakers, top public health officials, multi-disciplinary experts and industry leaders from healthcare and finance, and more than 500 participants internationally
- It brought together multiple stakeholders to chart the way forward for digital public health as the region recovers from COVID-19
H.E. Dato Dr Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah (right), Minister at The Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II, Brunei, in the Fireside Chat moderated by Prof Annie Koh, Professor Emeritus of Finance (Practice), Singapore Management University, at the 2nd ASEAN Digital Public Health Conference.
H.E. Dato Dr Hj Md Isham bin Jaafar (on stage, right), Minister of Health, Brunei, and six other ASEAN Health Ministers in the Health Ministerial Panel moderated by Professor David Koh (on stage, left) of the National University of Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, at the 2nd ASEAN Digital Public Health Conference.
Hosted by the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Ministry of Health in Brunei, the conference, themed “Health and Healthcare Beyond COVID-19: Building Forward Together”, was organized by EVYD Technology in partnership with the Brunei Investment Agency and the National University of Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, and supported by Temasek Foundation. Following the success of the inaugural conference last year, this year’s event was attended by over 500 participants and featured more than 60 prominent speakers from the health and finance sectors, including ASEAN Ministers, government authorities, multidisciplinary experts, and leaders from industry, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations. Among the highlights of the conference was a Fireside Chat with H.E. Dato Dr Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah, Minister at The Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II, Brunei, moderated by Prof Annie Koh, Professor Emeritus of Finance (Practice), Singapore Management University. Dato Amin shared Brunei’s long-term perspective toward healthcare spend on digital transformation and how the nation is optimizing investments through technological innovation. This includes expanding its BruHealth COVID-19 pandemic management mobile app into a national and individual health management app. The app now enables every Brunei resident to keep track of his/her medical appointments, view personal health records including laboratory, X-ray and radiology results, and schedule video consultations with doctors, dietitians or for other clinical services. It also encourages them to improve their health with prompts to lead a more active lifestyle and informative tips, including on nutrition. EVYD Technology is partnering the Ministry of Health, Brunei on the development and on-going evolution of the app. Following this was a keynote address delivered by H.E. Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health, Singapore, on Healthier SG – Insights and Experience. He spoke about how the country successfully launched Healthier SG, a national initiative to make the Singapore healthcare system more sustainable by shifting its focus from curative to preventive treatment. Mr Ong said that digital technology is enabling individuals to take greater ownership of their health, and centralized IT systems are powering integrated and seamless healthcare. Another keynote address was by Tan Sri Dr Subramaniam Sathasivam, Former Minister of Health, Malaysia and Co-Chair of the country’s Health White Paper Advisory Council. Tan Sri Subramaniam gave a preview of what Malaysia is trying to achieve with its upcoming Health White Paper – to remake the country’s healthcare system to be more sustainable and resilient,...