The 10th Asia Pacific Primary Care Research Conference  (APPCRC) 2025 commenced at the Academia, SGH Campus, was jointly hosted by  SingHealth Polyclinics (SHP), the Singapore Health Technologies Consortium  (HealthTEC.SG), and SingHealth Duke-NUS Family Medicine Academic Clinical Programme  (FM ACP). In conjunction with the conference, SHP announced three significant partnerships  with South Korean healthcare technology companies to advance digital healthcare solutions 

through research and Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

Strategic South Korean Partnerships Announced 

SHP announced three Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with South Korean technology  partners, to enhance patient care through AI and digital innovation. 

The first partnership project with injewelme will pioneer cutting edge AI-enabled facial  recognition technology called “DeepHealthVision” for almost instantaneous clinical  assessment using only mobile devices such as smartphone. Measuring heart rate, blood  pressure, and other metabolic parameters without additional devices will be a game changer. 

Traditional methods for tracking vital signs often rely on costly medical devices, trained  personnel, and in-person clinic visits. This project eliminates these barriers by enabling real time and continuous health monitoring through everyday devices such as smartphones,  tablets, and laptops. Patients will gain the ability to check their vital signs anytime and  anywhere, eliminating the need for specialised equipment or frequent clinic appointments. Continuous health monitoring also allows healthcare professionals to detect potential health  issues before they become serious, enabling earlier intervention and potentially reducing  hospitalisations.  

The second collaborated project with YoungAnd aims to sustain cognition based on virtual  dual task performance using the Brain Health Playground system. This interactive platform  encourages users to engage in specially designed games that enhance cognitive function,  making brain wellness both fun and appealing to the users. Brain Health Playground can be 

sited at home or community facilities such as Active Ageing Centers. The design may be used to support cognitive wellness in older adults, particularly those experiencing mild cognitive  impairment or early-stage dementia. Older adults can safely perform these exercises in the  comfort of their homes or at community centers, making brain training more accessible and  less intimidating. Healthcare professionals and care team can further monitor patients’  progress remotely, with the ability to adjust therapy plans based on individual performance  data.  

The third project with Monit is set to revolutionise care with innovative smart technologies  designed to enhance postnatal, infant, and elderly care. Its smart diaper-based technology  uses a combination of multiple sensors and AI pattern learning algorithm to understand the  contamination level of the diaper, offering advanced monitoring solutions that support skin  care by providing real-time insights to enable caregivers and healthcare providers to deliver  attentive and effective care for babies and adults.  

This technology, which is already in use/on trial in South Korean and Japan, provides data driven insights into a patient's condition, like early signs of dehydration, enteritis, or pressure  ulcer before they become emergencies. For patients, it means better hygiene, fewer infections,  improved skin health, and most importantly, a life of dignity. The solution also reduces  unnecessary manual checks and saves valuable time, allowing them to focus more on human  connection. Healthcare providers will further benefit from a new window into patient health,  making care more human-centric, preventive, and seamless in alignment with modern  healthcare needs. Through data-driven analysis, this collaboration enables personalised care  delivery, transforming how health and wellbeing are managed across generations. 

The MOUs established a shared commitment to co-create innovations contextualised to the  target users, including patients, public, and healthcare professionals. As a frontline primary  care institution, SHP provides a conducive setting and expertise to evaluate the innovations  developed by the South Korean technology partners in terms of their effectiveness to improve  the health outcomes of the population that the polyclinics serve under the national Healthier  SG programme, as well as their cost-efficiency, impact on patient experience, and the well 

being of healthcare workers. The collaboration will also consider the environmental  sustainability and carbon footprint of these innovations, especially in the context of a rapidly ageing population and the growing challenges of climate change. 

"These partnerships showcased today represent more than just technological advancement  - they demonstrate SHP’s vision for the future of primary care in Singapore. By collaborating  with innovative partners across the region, we're bringing smart and personalised solutions  that can transform healthcare delivery across every stage of life," said Dr David Ng, Chief  Executive Officer, SHP and Academic Chair, SingHealth Duke-NUS FM ACP. 

"Through research and feasibility studies, we will carefully evaluate how these innovations  can best serve our patients and healthcare professionals. The initial phase of the partnerships  will be a collaborative project with injewelme, where the study will evaluate the accuracy,  reliability, feasibility and user acceptability of the DeepHealthVision system in our local  context, " added Dr Ng. 

“SingHealth Polyclinics stands out for its strong commitment to innovation and population  health. Their extensive primary care network, diverse patient population, and leadership in  digital health initiatives make them an ideal partner for validating and scaling our preventive  health solutions,” said James Moon, Chief Executive Officer of injewelme. 

“We chose SingHealth Polyclinics as our collaborative partner because they are leaders in  providing smart and connected healthcare. They care about improving health through new  and practical solutions, which fits well with our goals,” shared Martin Seo, Chief Business  Development Officer of YoungAnd. 

“What makes this collaboration special is the combination of clinical excellence with  technological innovation. SingHealth Polyclinics brings medical insight, access to patients,  and a culture of excellence, while Monit brings cutting-edge AI technology, and the agility of  a startup to transform preventive care,” remarked Tony Park, Chief Executive Officer of Monit. 

Asia Pacific Primary Care Research Conference (APPCRC) 

The three-day conference, themed "Advancing Health through Innovations and AI", has  drawn over 200 healthcare professionals from across the Asia Pacific region. The event  kicked off with its signature Research Championship, where novice researchers receive  intensive coaching from experienced Family Medicine researchers from established  universities across Singapore and the Asia Pacific region. 

"This championship represents our commitment to nurturing the next generation of primary  care researchers," said Clinical Associate Professor (Dr) Tan Ngiap Chuan, Director of  Research and Primary Care Research Institute (PCRI), SHP and Vice-chair, Research,  SingHealth-Duke NUS FM ACP. " 

Teams are competing through multiple rounds, culminating in an exciting finale where  audience voting will help determine the Championship Trophy winner. 

The comprehensive programme highlights a dynamic lineup with distinguished plenary  speakers who will explore the transformative impacts of telehealth, AI, and healthcare policy.  Attendees will gain insights from cutting-edge oral and poster presentations showcasing the  latest research breakthroughs, alongside engaging mini-symposiums and specialised 

workshops. A vibrant World Café will spotlight Health Technology startups demonstrating  innovative AI-enabled solutions. 

A/Prof Tan added, "The 10th edition of APPCRC is a significant milestone and represents a  crucial platform to advance primary care via research and innovation in our region. It  strengthens collaboration among the primary care professionals in Singapore and beyond to  the Asia Pacific region. What is unique in this conference is the opportunity to connect primary  care professionals with technology partners to explore and exchange ideas on how to  leverage on AI and innovation to improve the healthcare experience and health of the  population, and to mitigate the cost and burden of the healthcare workforce.”