International specialists advance neurocritical care collaboration in Indonesia

Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province reaffirmed its commitment to advancing healthcare through international collaboration with the opening of the 9th International Joint Symposium Indonesia–Singapore Neuroanaesthesia and Neurocritical Care at Aruna Senggigi Resort & Convention, Lombok.

The symposium was officially opened on behalf of Dr. H. Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, Governor of West Nusa Tenggara, by Dr. Lalu Hamzi Fikri, Head of the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Health Office.

In a message delivered by Dr. Fikri, Governor Iqbal expressed appreciation to the Indonesian Society of Neuroanesthesia and Critical Care (INA-SNACC), Indonesia, and its international partners for selecting Lombok as the host of the scientific forum.

“This forum is not merely a platform for sharing knowledge but also a strategic opportunity to strengthen international collaboration in delivering better healthcare services for our communities,” the Governor said.

Held under the theme “One Team, One Brain: Building Excellence in Collaboration for Better Outcomes,” the symposium brings together neuroanaesthesia and neurocritical care specialists from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, India, ������, and several other countries to exchange research findings, clinical experience, best practices, and the latest advances in neuroanaesthesia and neurocritical care.

The West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government said developing skilled healthcare professionals, strengthening referral hospitals, and expanding partnerships with national and international institutions remain key priorities in improving the quality, accessibility, and competitiveness of healthcare services across the province.

Beyond its scientific programme, the symposium reinforces Lombok’s growing reputation as a destination for healthcare conferences and medical meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), bringing together healthcare, education, and tourism. The event is also expected to generate positive economic benefits by supporting the hospitality, transportation, culinary, creative economy, and tourism sectors.

Governor Iqbal expressed hope that the symposium would strengthen international collaboration, encourage innovation, and foster lasting professional networks in neuroanaesthesia and neurocritical care. He said the forum reflects West Nusa Tenggara’s growing role as a host for international medical conferences while contributing to better healthcare services across Indonesia and the wider region.

Source: West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government

SingHealth Polyclinics highlights the importance of preventive care, annual health reviews, and personalised health plans under Healthier SG.

Healthier SG and SingHealth Polyclinics are encouraging Singaporeans to prioritise preventive healthcare and take proactive steps toward maintaining long-term health through personalised Health Plans.

The initiative reminds individuals, especially those balancing work, children, and caregiving responsibilities, that taking care of their own health is equally important to supporting their loved ones.

Under Healthier SG, enrolled residents can begin their healthcare journey with a fully subsidised first Health Plan consultation at SingHealth Polyclinics. The consultation focuses on understanding an individual’s medical history, lifestyle habits, and personal health goals before creating a customised care plan.

The programme aims to address silent chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol, which often develop without noticeable symptoms until complications arise.

Healthier SG encourages individuals to take preventive action early through regular monitoring, screenings, and healthier lifestyle habits.

The Health Plan is designed to evolve alongside a person’s changing lifestyle and healthcare needs. Annual reviews allow doctors and healthcare teams to assess progress, identify emerging health concerns, review medications, and update health goals.

During these reviews, healthcare providers may discuss areas including current medical conditions, diet, exercise, sleep habits, medication management, and recommended preventive care measures.

Preventive healthcare remains a major focus of the Healthier SG initiative. Doctors may recommend screenings for chronic diseases and cancers, as well as vaccinations to protect individuals and their families from preventable illnesses.

Singapore citizens enrolled in Healthier SG may also qualify for enhanced subsidies for recommended health screenings and vaccinations, including influenza vaccines, depending on factors such as age, health conditions, and vaccination history.

The initiative highlights the importance of maintaining good health to remain active and present for important family milestones, celebrations, and everyday moments.

Residents are encouraged to enrol in Healthier SG through the HealthHub app and schedule their first Health Plan consultation at SingHealth Polyclinics.

Source: SingHealth

New agreement strengthens collaboration in emerging medical technologies, including cell and gene therapy products.

Health Sciences Authority and National Medical Products Administration have signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen regulatory collaboration on health products and support faster access to innovative medical technologies in both countries.

The agreement was signed on May 11, 2026, in Beijing, China, and expands cooperation into emerging healthcare sectors such as cell, tissue, and gene therapy products.

The renewed MOU was signed by Adjunct Professor Dr Raymond Chua, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA), and Mr Huang Guo, Commissioner of China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).

The expanded collaboration aims to strengthen regulatory convergence between Singapore and China while improving opportunities for industry engagement and accelerating the development, evaluation, and market access of innovative therapeutics and medical technologies.

Both agencies will continue sharing regulatory information, best practices, and expertise, while also cooperating on inspections, product testing, and efforts to combat counterfeit, falsified, and substandard health products.

The renewed agreement builds on an earlier MOU signed in 2021, which covered areas such as chemical drugs, biological products, traditional Chinese medicines, medical devices, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and cosmetics.

Under the updated agreement, the scope now includes advanced medical innovations such as cell, tissue, and gene therapies, which are considered rapidly growing areas in healthcare and biotechnology.

The two regulatory authorities have maintained bilateral cooperation for more than two decades since their first MOU was signed in 2003 with China’s former State Food and Drug Administration, now known as the NMPA.

According to HSA, approximately 35 medicines and more than 1,000 medical devices manufactured in China are currently approved for use in Singapore.

Adjunct Professor Dr Raymond Chua said the renewed MOU reflects the strong partnership between both agencies and their shared commitment to enabling healthcare innovation while maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and efficacy.

He added that the expanded cooperation would help create a more agile and forward-looking regulatory environment capable of responding to the rapidly evolving global health products landscape and delivering innovative therapies to patients more quickly.

The strengthened partnership is also expected to reinforce Singapore’s role as an international regulatory hub for healthcare innovation and create new opportunities for researchers, developers, and healthcare companies operating across both markets.

Source: Health Sciences Authority, Singapore

Mass General Brigham expert highlights how AI-powered clinical systems are improving patient safety, reducing medication errors, and enhancing healthcare quality worldwide.

Professor David Bates, Medical Director of Clinical and Quality Analysis at Mass General Brigham, says artificial intelligence and advanced health information technology are among the most promising innovations shaping the future of patient care.

Speaking on the SGH Hospital of the Future Podcast, Professor Bates discussed how AI-powered clinical decision support systems and biomedical informatics are helping hospitals improve safety, reduce medication errors, and optimise healthcare delivery.

The podcast episode featured discussions with Dr Goh Su-Yen and Dr Jasmine Ong, who explored the growing role of AI and digital innovation in healthcare systems.

Professor Bates explained that biomedical informatics — the application of computing and data science in healthcare — is becoming increasingly important as hospitals seek better ways to manage patient information, improve communication, and support clinical decision-making.

He highlighted how AI-based clinical decision support systems can actively monitor patient conditions, identify potential risks earlier, and help healthcare professionals make safer and more effective treatment decisions.

According to Professor Bates, health information technology has already shown strong results in reducing preventable patient harm, particularly in medication safety and care quality monitoring.

Professor Bates also discussed the importance of active surveillance systems that use healthcare data to identify safety issues and ensure healthcare systems deliver high-quality care consistently.

In the podcast, he emphasised that while AI offers significant opportunities, healthcare organisations must carefully implement these technologies to ensure both safety and effectiveness for patients.

Professor Bates currently serves as co-Director of the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Bioinformatics Learning Systems at Mass General Brigham and is also a Senior Physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

He previously served as Chief Quality Officer and Chief Innovation Officer at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and remains a Professor at both Harvard Medical School and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Professor Bates is internationally recognised for his work in patient safety, healthcare quality, and the use of technology in medicine. He has published more than 1,200 peer-reviewed research papers and has been repeatedly recognised by Modern Healthcare magazine among the most powerful figures in U.S. healthcare.

Dr Goh Su-Yen currently serves as Senior Consultant in Endocrinology at Singapore General Hospital, Head and Senior Consultant at the SingHealth Duke-NUS Diabetes Centre, and Group Director of Innovation and Transformation at SingHealth.

Dr Jasmine Ong is Principal Clinical Pharmacist at Singapore General Hospital and leads multiple AI and healthcare technology innovation projects within SingHealth’s AI Office.

The discussion reflects growing global interest in how AI technologies can help healthcare providers improve efficiency, patient outcomes, and clinical safety while supporting doctors and healthcare workers in increasingly complex medical environments.

Source: Singapore General Hospital

Health Minister Mr Ong Ye Kung Outlines New Initiatives for Super-Aged Singapore at Community Care Workplan Seminar 2026

Minister for Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Mr Ong Ye Kung outlined Singapore’s plans to strengthen community care and ageing support as the country becomes a “super-aged society” during his speech at the Community Care Workplan Seminar 2026 on 7 May 2026 in Singapore.

Addressing community care partners, healthcare providers and social organisations, Mr Ong Ye Kung said that more than 21 per cent of Singapore citizens are now aged 65 and above, with the number expected to rise significantly over the next five years. He noted that Singapore could eventually reach ageing levels similar to Japan, where around 30 per cent of the population are seniors.

Mr Ong Ye Kung stressed that ageing should not be viewed negatively, highlighting that many seniors today remain healthy, active and independent. He shared that more than 400,000 seniors were visited by Silver Generation Ambassadors in 2025, with nine in 10 seniors aged 65 and above found to be well and independent.

The Minister highlighted the government’s “CHOPE” framework, which focuses on Coordination, Health, Outreach, Partnerships and Engagement to support seniors in the community. He said the strategy forms the foundation of Singapore’s Age Well SG initiative.

Mr Ong Ye Kung announced that the Ministry of Health (MOH), Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), grassroots organisations and community care providers will strengthen outreach efforts to identify and support seniors more effectively. He also addressed concerns about data-sharing and privacy, assuring partners that new legislation, including the Health Information Bill and Public Sector Governance Amendment Bill, now provides a clear legal framework for responsible data-sharing to improve community care services.

The Minister also highlighted the progress of Integrated Community Care Providers (ICCPs), which bring together community partners across 84 sub-regions in Singapore to coordinate senior care services. Under the initiative, seniors will eventually benefit from “one assessment, one care plan” across different care providers.

Mr Ong Ye Kung said community health services will also be expanded through Community Health Posts (CHPs) located near Active Ageing Centres (AACs). These services include health screenings, teleconsultations, medication support and preventive healthcare initiatives aimed at bringing healthcare closer to seniors’ homes.

The Minister further announced the expansion of Age Well Neighbourhoods (AWNs), following the launch of the first pilot in Toa Payoh. New AWNs will be introduced in Tiong Bahru-Redhill, Bukit Panjang and Bedok, supported by healthcare clusters and enhanced community care infrastructure.

On Community Care Apartments (CCAs), Mr Ong Ye Kung said the government will slow down future launches after reviewing demand and the increasing availability of alternative assisted living options for seniors.

Closing his speech, Mr Ong Ye Kung reaffirmed the government’s commitment to helping seniors age with dignity, purpose and care through stronger community support systems and partnerships.

Source: MOH