The third edition of Precision Public Health Asia 2023 Conference unraveled with the theme “Advancing Precision Public Health in Asia and Beyond – The Future is Now” over a two-day event on July 13-14 at the Centre for Healthcare Innovation, Singapore.

The Asia-Pacific regional conference is Co-organised by the National University of Singapore (NUS) Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and Precision Public Health Asia Society attracting international, regional and local speakers from the private and public healthcare sectors. The theme of the conference gains significance as Singapore emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and moves into the Healthier SG era. Singapore’s Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, delivered the opening address.  

More than 500 delegates from ASEAN and beyond attended the conference, including policymakers, health sector leaders, industry experts, clinical researchers and academics. Experts discuss issues such as safe and responsible data-sharing practices, precision public health financing, innovations in digital health and applications of artificial intelligence (AI) to unlock clues for genetic diseases. 

Stakeholders from the public and private sectors, as well as academia, discussed how precision public health interventions are being developed, implemented, and financed, and explored gaps in the current operational modules. Precision public health interventions can be mainstreamed more widely and more effectively only through the collaboration and cooperatioln of various sectors of the healthcare system.

Associate Professor Jeremy Lim, Director of the Leadership Institute for Global Health Transformation at NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, moderated the opening plenary topic of “Digital Health for Population Health” and discussed ways to effectively invest in precision public health.

Precision public health is centered on the use of data, digital health and precision technologies to improve healthcare practices and public health policies. Ultimately, it strives to deliver the right interventions to the right populations at the right time.

Assistant Professor Clive Tan, Chairman of the Precision Public Health Asia 2023 Conference Organising Committee, said, “For many years, public health has focused on interventions aimed at reducing the burden of disease in populations. While these efforts have led to significant improvements in health outcomes, there is a growing recognition that a one-size-fits-all approach may not be the most effective way to address the complex health needs of populations. This is where precision public health comes in. Precision public health aims to improve the health system and advance population health goals by adopting public health principles, such as tailoring interventions to the specific needs of individuals and communities, using technology such as digital health, big data and precision medicine to identify and address health disparities and prevent disease. Asst Prof Tan is also a founding member of the Precision Public Health Asia Society.