Healthcare - EuroCham

INTRODUCTION

Singapore has arguably one of the most efficient healthcare systems in the world, with a life expectancy of 82 years achieved through a modest health spend of about 5% of GDP (vs. average of 9% in OECD countries) and a Pharmaceutical spend of about 8% of total healthcare cost (vs. average of over 16% in OECD). Singapore is also internationally recognized as a biomedical hub, serving as a base for manufacturing, regional headquarters, and R&D activities for many international healthcare companies. The biopharmaceutical industry generated around S$30 billion in manufacturing output and accounts for one fifth of the total manufacturing activity in Singapore. The industry also provides employment for more than 25,000 people.

However, a number of healthcare challenges lies ahead, including an aging population together with its associated healthcare needs. Singapore is in the unenviable position of being No. 2 in diabetes prevalence among developed countries. In addition, cancer is the leading cause of mortality in Singapore at 116 deaths per 100,000 population, which exceeds the average cancer mortality rate across 20 Asian countries. Innovative and sustainable solutions are needed to address these urgent and growing healthcare needs.

OBJECTIVES

The EuroCham Healthcare committee in Singapore aims to bring together stakeholders to find solutions to address the healthcare challenges facing Singapore. The committee represents the various sectors of the European healthcare industry in Singapore, including pharmaceutical, insurance and medical devices companies. It seeks to engage and partner with relevant government bodies, non-governmental organisations and other relevant stakeholders, with the fundamental belief that these challenges are best addressed when we come together.

LEADERSHIP

Mr Anbu Srinivasan, Managing Director – Cluster (Central Asia & ANZ), Fresenius Medical Care Singapore (Chair)
Mr Samuel Koh, Corporate Affairs & Market Access Director, AstraZeneca Singapore (Co-Chair)
Mr Low Cheaw Hwei, Head of Design, Philips ASEAN & Pacific and; Head of Government and Public Affairs, Philips Singapore (Co-Chair)
Ms Siow Ai Li, Managing Director, Siemens Singapore (Co-Chair)

HIGHLIGHTS

Closed-door meeting with Minister for Health, Mr Ong Ye Kung
The Future of Healthcare & Wellbeing Whitebook
COVID-19 Vaccination – Facts and Fiction
Digital Transformation in healthcare: balancing act of rapid adoption of technologies vs. protection against cybersecurity threats
Innovating health technology assessments (HTA) in Singapore to support novel intentions
Position Paper on “Collaborative Opportunities to Address Healthcare Transformation in Singapore“
The Future of Healthcare and Wellbeing programme
Managing Personal Health with Telehealth and Telemedicine
Joint Event on “Interventions for a Healthy Life” with SwedCham with guest speaker, Professor Mai-Lis Hellénius from the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden
Industry seminar on International Healthcare Technology Assessments