Data analytics can revolutionise healthcare

PROVIDING their citizens with good healthcare is one of the greatest challenges facing governments today. Ageing populations and changes in the nature of prevalent chronic disease are putting tremendous pressure on healthcare systems around the world, no matter what model they follow.

One highly promising solution to these challenges is the application of data analytics. Healthcare systems generate extraordinary volumes of data, and it is clear that if this mountain of information can be efficiently mined, the insights revealed could transform the industry - from pharmaceutical R&D to providers' operational management to patient outcomes.

Singapore is a classic example of the changing nature of the healthcare challenge. With the country's population of over-65s expected to triple to 900,000 by 2030, and facing a worrying increase in obesity, diabetes and heart disease, the government responded to the challenge in 2012 with the launch of its Healthcare 2020 Masterplan. The goals of the plan were to improve the access, affordability and quality of healthcare services for Singaporeans.