Despite years of public education and subsidized national programs, Singapore continues to struggle with low screening rates for cancers such as breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer. Participation in screenings for cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes is also notably low, especially among older adults.
The launch of Healthier SG presents a timely opportunity to address these gaps. As primary care providers, general practitioners (GPs) are ideally positioned to offer personalized health advice and initiate timely screenings. However, many GPs lack access to consolidated screening records and are not notified when patients are due—or overdue—for national screenings.
This oversight means that valuable opportunities for preventive care are often missed during routine consultations. These visits could be used to encourage patients to undergo essential screenings.
To remedy this, I propose the creation of a central screening registry integrated with GPs’ electronic medical record systems. Such a registry would notify GPs when patients are due for screenings, prompt action during consultations, and facilitate referrals with minimal effort. It should also track the progress of screening invitations, completed tests, and follow-up appointments to ensure continuity and accountability.
In addition, artificial intelligence (AI) could be employed to enhance this process. AI tools could identify patients at high risk of missing screenings based on factors like age, medical history, and behavioral patterns. This would help GPs prioritize outreach and follow-ups. Patients could also receive personalized reminders via HealthHub or SMS, reinforcing their doctor’s recommendations.
Of course, any such system must adhere to strict data protection standards and be clinically validated.
Healthier SG represents a shift toward proactive healthcare, but for it to succeed, GPs need more than responsibility—they need the right infrastructure. By combining trusted relationships in primary care with data-driven tools, we can boost screening rates, detect diseases earlier, and reduce long-term healthcare costs, ultimately improving the overall health of Singapore’s population.
Related Topics
