As Singapore ages, how can public healthcare innovations be scaled for lasting impact? (GovInsider, 5 Nov 2025)

As Singapore taps on AI and tech to manage the challenges of population ageing, how can we ensure these digital enablers also “age well” and deliver lasting impact for our health system and older adults?

In a commentary for GovInsider, GERI’s Deputy Executive Director, Dr Tan Woan Shin, zeroes in on what can make or break even the most sophisticated app or algorithm: its real-world implementation.

“Even the most promising digital enabler can fail if we neglect the larger web of interconnected human factors and systems surrounding the tech: the habits and preferences of older adults and their caregivers, the workflows of healthcare providers, the resources of care settings, and so on,” Dr Tan writes.

Drawing on GERI’s research, Dr Tan outlines five strategies for an evidence-driven and evidence-tested approach to build innovations that can be scaled, sustained and well-integrated into our healthcare system.

“These tools should be developed based on what we know works, using internationally available evidence and, where possible, local data. Importantly, their content and implementation need to be culturally appropriate so they can work well in local settings and for local users,” Dr Tan notes.

For more, read the full column here.