628 - Smart Health Asia Insights: Technology, Collaboration, and Healthcare's Future in Asia

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Madhu Sasidhar, CEO and President of Apollo Hospitals, Luciano Bristia, Asia Pacific Business Lead at InterSystems, and Kym Chua, Executive Director of Messe Berlin Asia Pacific.

The discussion covers healthcare system challenges, digital transformation, AI adoption, workforce shortages, regional collaboration, and what it takes to drive innovation across Asia-Pacific health sectors.

The conversation explores how AI is easing pressure on clinicians, from assisting radiologists with scans to helping nurses pull up patient information faster.

It also touches on the urban and rural divide in access to care, Indonesia's push for a unified national health record, the importance of adapting solutions to local markets rather than adopting them outright, and how sustainability is shaping infrastructure decisions across the region.

This episode was recorded during Smart Health Asia in Singapore, an event that brought together over 3,000 participants from 18 countries.

It features interviews and observations captured during the event, highlighting perspectives from senior leaders, technology providers, and event organisers.

Key Takeaways

🩺 Access to healthcare and technology is a significant challenge in India and Southeast Asia, with urban-rural divides and workforce shortages affecting service delivery.

🤖 AI and digital technologies are being leveraged for efficiency gains, assisting with diagnostics (radiology, stroke, colonoscopy) and reducing clinician workload.

🌏 Regional health challenges and solutions differ greatly; mature markets like Australia and Japan contrast with fast-growing, young populations in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

💡 Collaboration across healthcare providers, policymakers, and technology vendors is seen as essential for scalable, effective innovation.

🔥 Initiatives like Indonesia's "Satu Sehat" (One Health) aim to create nationwide health records, especially targeting preventive care as a strategy for future public health management.

Timestamps

00:00 - Event Introduction: Smart Health Asia

00:48 - Madhu Sasidhar, CEO Apollo Hospitals

08:23 - Luciano Bristia, InterSystems, Asia Pacific

23:02 - Kym Chua, Event Organiser and Executive Director, Messe Berlin Asia Pacific

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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