Study Tour Diary from Singapore: Day 4

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

Day Four: Biobot Surgical, NUS Centre for Sustainable Medicine and Health Catalyst: Data-Driven Healthcare.

On Thursday, we had the opportunity to visit Biobot Surgical, a Singaporean company at the forefront of robotic-assisted trans-perineal prostate procedures. Biobot Surgical is one of the first surgical robotics ventures to emerge from Singapore’s vibrant clinical and academic ecosystem and has helped advance prostate care by offering precision, safety, and improved patient outcomes. We had the privilege of meeting with Albert Lee, CEO of Biobot, who shared his impressive journey within the pharmaceutical marketing and medical technology industries and how Biobot is revolutionising prostate cancer care today.

Albert Lee discussed the development of Biobot’s flagship products, the Mona Lisa and Mona Lisa 2.0 devices, robotic platforms that significantly improve prostate biopsies and ablation procedures. We learnt that these devices address the inefficiencies of traditional transrectal biopsies, which carry a high risk of infection and low detection rates for clinically significant cancers. Instead, Biobot’s devices use MRI and ultrasound fusion technology to deliver precision-guided transperineal biopsies, significantly reducing infection risk and increasing accuracy in cancer detection. Through a practical demonstration, it was fascinating to see how this system significantly improves patient outcomes while advancing the global standard of care within prostate disease management.

Albert also delved into the challenges medical start-ups face, especially in securing funding and navigating different regulatory environments worldwide. He shared the importance of patient-centred care and aligning innovation with real-world healthcare needs. It became clear that while the journey for medical device companies like Biobot Surgical is challenging, the potential for global impact- evidenced by their 23,000 procedures worldwide- is transformative.

Following our visit to Biobot Surgical, we headed to the NUS Frontier Canteen for lunch, where we were greeted by a bustling atmosphere that resembled some of Singapore’s iconic hawker markets. With various food stalls, we had the chance to immerse ourselves in the local food culture with dishes such as Hainanese Chicken Rice and Malatang hot pot. Beyond the food, the canteen was a hub of student activity, providing an excellent opportunity to mingle with NUS students. Our conversations helped us better understand the academic rigour and social environment at one of the world’s top universities.

Our next stop was a visit to the NUS Centre for Sustainable Medicine, where we attended an eye-opening session led by Professor Nick Watts, Director of the Centre and former Chief Sustainability Officer for the NHS in the UK. Professor Watts shared his vast experience leading the NHS toward becoming the world’s first net-zero healthcare system and securing over $1 billion in funding for sustainable healthcare initiatives. During the session, Professor Watts introduced us to healthcare decarbonisation, explaining how healthcare systems worldwide contribute heavily to carbon emissions. We learnt how reducing the carbon footprint in healthcare improves environmental outcomes and saves lives and money. He also explained the nine planetary boundaries, a framework identifying the environmental limits within which humanity can safely operate. Professor Watts highlighted how healthcare pushes several of these boundaries, particularly regarding waste production, energy consumption and carbon emissions. It was fascinating to learn how healthcare sustainability is interconnected with planetary health and how we can help ensure long-term patient and planetary well-being by tackling climate change in healthcare systems.

One of the more complex topics of discussion was the impact of artificial intelligence initiatives on healthcare emissions. While AI can drive clinical improvements and operational efficiency, it also risks increased carbon emissions. This led to a compelling discussion about the balance between technological advancement and environmental sustainability and the importance of ensuring that future AI initiatives in healthcare are developed with sustainability in mind.

We also explored the carbon footprint of healthcare supply chains. Professor Watts emphasised that many healthcare products and services come with an unknown environmental impact, making it difficult to assess the true carbon footprint of healthcare delivery. We learnt about the potential of carbon trading platforms to incentivise sustainable practices within the supply chain, where companies could be rewarded for reducing their carbon emissions. This led to a broader discussion on the overuse of PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic and how the large amount of waste produced during the pandemic emphasises the need to plan for future crises.

After our session with Professor Watts, we had the chance to meet with Health Catalyst, a company at the forefront of healthcare data and analytics. We were introduced to Farhana Nakhooda, Senior Vice President for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, and Kee Haw Wong, Director of Business Development for APAC. Health Catalyst is committed to helping healthcare organisations improve through data-informed decision-making, and our discussion highlighted how their solutions drive clinical quality improvement, reduce costs and enhance population health.

Farhana and Kee Haw, shared their experiences working with healthcare providers to identify inefficiencies, improve data literacy and implement data-driven solutions. We witnessed how Health Catalyst’s tools, such as the Ignite™ Data and Analytics platform, integrate vast amounts of healthcare data to provide actionable insights, helping improve both clinical outcomes and operational efficiency. We also learnt about their work in clinical quality improvement and revenue cycle management, all of which contribute to creating more efficient and sustainable healthcare systems. Their discussion emphasised the importance of empowering healthcare professionals with data literacy to drive better decision-making and improve health outcomes.

As we had a free evening, a group of us had dinner at the acclaimed Man Fu Yuan Restaurant at InterContinental Singapore, where we indulged in exquisite Cantonese cuisine. Each dish was carefully crafted, reflecting the rich culinary traditions of Cantonese cooking. After dinner, we headed to Smoke and Mirrors, a rooftop cocktail bar atop the National Gallery of Singapore. With breath-taking views of the city skyline, including landmarks like Marina Bay Sands, it was an ideal spot to unwind and reflect on the learnings of the day.

To conclude, day five was a perfect day for understanding how cutting-edge innovation in healthcare robotics, sustainability, and data-driven initiatives have contributed to establishing a more efficient healthcare system within Singapore and how, as future healthcare leaders, such tools can be used to improve healthcare systems worldwide.