Study Tour Diary from Singapore: Day 2

Authors: Ilham Aden, Elitsa Kamberska, Sara Sekhon, Xingjian Wu and Helen Hiu Tung Mac
Photos: Yuheng Wang

Day Two: NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health

On the second day, we were given the opportunity to visit the National University of Singapore (NUS). First, we visited the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, where Dr. Jason Yap, Vice Dean of the School, welcomed us with an engaging presentation on Singapore's healthcare system. Dr Yap provided an in-depth overview of how his department is critical in supporting policy formulation and program implementation for various agencies, including the Ministry of Health and the Health Promotion Board. One of the highlights was learning about Singapore's 'war' on diabetes and obesity, with Dr Yap framing this as a pressing national priority. It was interesting to see how public health policies are carefully created to encourage healthier lifestyles and how, through campaigns such as the "smoke-free generation", Singapore invests in long-term public health goals that will benefit future generations.

What stood out the most, however, was understanding Singapore's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Yap's explanation of how Singapore balanced its political decisions with public health goals resonated deeply with our studies back in the UK. It provided a clear case study on how countries can make effective policy decisions that not only save lives but also mitigate economic and societal costs. The session caused many of us to rethink how public health policy in the UK could adopt a more proactive and preventative approach. However, it was understood that culture and differences in healthcare financing make this significantly challenging.

We then visited the NUS Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, where we were greeted by Professor Sok Ying Liaw, Director of the Centre. She provided us with a comprehensive look at the history and evolution of the nursing school, explaining how it has become a globally recognised institution. The focus on interprofessional collaboration was particularly insightful, and how, with digital health innovation, we can better achieve optimal patient outcomes. Wilson Tam, Director of Research, and Professor Linda Hong-Gu He, Director of Graduate Research Programs, also gave us a thorough overview of the PhD programs and ongoing research opportunities available at NUS and how digital health innovation and AI are slowly becoming part of the syllabus.

Dr Jocelyn Chew, whose work bridges health behaviour change and artificial intelligence, presented her work on how AI, through a digital application, can promote personalised healthcare, specifically in obesity and weight management. Learning more about her experience as a Singapore Biodesign Innovation Fellow and her ongoing research in cardiometabolic diseases emphasised how digital health solutions drive the future of preventative medicine. These concepts directly apply to the UK, where digital health technologies are increasingly integrating into patient care.

Our final trip for day two involved travelling to the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), where we had the opportunity to visit the NTU Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) and the Centre for Healthy and Sustainable Cities (CHESS). Professor May O. Lwin, Chair of WKWSCI and Co-Director of CHESS, along with Professor Yin-Leng Theng, Co-Director of CHESS, provided us with valuable insights into the intersection of communication, technology, and public, and how communication and technology are essential for long-term sustainability in healthcare.

We were also able to see some of the work conducted by the NTU research associates, which included the creation and implementation of the program I-SING, a program which encourages elderly individuals within the community to visit community centres for an evening of singing and cognitive games. The initiative addressed the ageing population in Singapore and common issues that arise from this, such as loneliness and cognitive health concerns. The simplicity of the concept, combined with its far-reaching impact, made us all reflect on how similar programs could be adopted in the UK to improve the well-being of elderly citizens. Other presentations concerned better implementation and management of palliative care, how cultural and religious views affect this, and how AI can address infectious diseases like malaria.

After the presentation we were able to explore NTU’s high-tech sound and video rooms which can be used by students to record, produce, and create music, videos and other media productions. We got to interact with their equipment and even pretended to be news presenters! It was a fun, hands-on experience that provided us with a unique insight into how communication and technology, is fundamental within the broader climate of healthcare and public health.

To conclude, the second day of the trip, centred on the theme of translational research in practice, helped us gain a better understanding of how cutting-edge research, particularly in digital health and AI, is directly linked to improving patient outcomes. It was fascinating to learn how the health system in Singapore is so vastly different and, arguably, more efficient despite Singapore spending a smaller proportion of its GDP on healthcare relative to other countries.