New training programmes and job opportunities to boost ICT talent manpower in Healthcare
SINGAPORE, 16 March 2018 – Digital transformation and convergence is giving Singapore’s healthcare sector a major boost through new partnerships, more job opportunities and training programmes through the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) initiative to attract and develop a skilled pool of Health Tech professionals. The convergence of technology in the healthcare sector is integral in deepening Singapore’s capability development, as technology is a key enabler in making healthcare system more productive and future-ready in a digital economy.
Today’s inaugural Health Tech Day brought together over 40 organisations including healthcare institutions, companies and training partners to showcase cutting-edge product innovations, with more than 500 job opportunities. Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information and Health Mr Chee Hong Tat addressed industry practitioners, students and working professionals at the event organised by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), in partnership with Integrated Health Information Systems (IHiS). The event included speakerships by industry experts, conversation series with venture capitalists, technology showcases, company visits; offering ICT professionals and students a holistic experience of the Health Tech innovations and career opportunities in healthcare.
New partnerships under TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) to boost ICT manpower for healthcare
As part of the industry collective effort to develop skilled ICT talent to augment the Health Tech workforce, global biopharmaceutical company MSD is the latest partner on-board to boost the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) initiative, which aims to accelerate professional development for tech jobs. As one of the companies under TeSA’s Company Led Training programme, MSD is committed to equipping over 90 ICT professionals with in-demand skills in cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud computing and software development over the next three years through on-the-job training and overseas attachments. In addition, the partnership will also catalyse the employment of both fresh and mid-level ICT professionals which contributes to the ecosystem, especially in the healthcare sector.
To support mid-career professionals in their transition to the healthcare sector, IHiS has targeted to place and train 50 mid-career PMETs through Workforce Singapore’s Adapt and Grow Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs) over the next two years. IHiS will tap on the existing PCPs for job roles such as network engineer, mobile application developer and software developer. The training duration for these PCPs can range from 3 to 9 months, including on-the-job training.
“Today, industries are rapidly digitalising and transforming. Companies must also embrace technology to remain competitive in a digital economy. Through the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) initiative, IMDA is working with industry partners to build a vibrant pool of tech talent to support this digital transformation. We are pleased to partner stakeholders like IHiS, Philips and Farrer Park Hospital to accelerate our efforts in nurturing a pipeline of ICT professionals to take on a new set of exciting digital jobs in the healthcare sector,” said Mr Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive, IMDA.
“HealthTech is an exciting space to be in now. Investments in this sector grew by 7% over the last three years. Moving forward, the growth is expected to double and grow by some 13% in the next three years. The trajectory growth would translate to a demand of approximately 1,200 more health IT jobs. We welcome more talents to join the HealthTech industry in shaping the future of healthcare in Singapore,” said Mr Bruce Liang, Chief Information Officer, Ministry of Health & Chief Executive Officer, IHiS.
New National HealthTech Challenge to develop innovative solutions for healthcare
Organised by IHiS, the inaugural National HealthTech Challenge brings together healthcare professionals, research institutes and the tech industry, to identify and solve pressing healthcare issues through technology on a national scale. The Challenge is themed to align the Ministry of Health’s three shifts – Beyond Healthcare to Health, Beyond Hospital to Community, and Beyond Quality to Value. Through various shortlist sessions, IHiS will select up to 10 promising solutions, and provide support to pilot the project, ranging from policy compliance, regulatory and ethical approvals, securing of funds for development and setting up of clinical trials. If evaluated to deliver value, the solution would be supported by IHiS and public healthcare institutions to scale across the relevant healthcare sector. The Challenge starts in March and the final shortlist session is expected to be conducted in the third quarter of 2018. More information on the Challenge can be found at www.ihis.com.sg/nhtchallenge
New varsity programme to groom next generation of industry-ready ICT professionals
Singapore Management University (SMU) will also offer a new second major in Health Economics and Management (HEM) to develop industry-ready graduates who are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective administration and management within the healthcare sector. Students of HEM will learn areas of studies relating to healthcare administration, policy, economics, management, operations, and analytics. The SMU HEM will bring the university’s unique and innovative pedagogy to the healthcare industry, providing students experiential and work-based learning at hospitals and other healthcare institutions. The HEM programme will open doors to meaningful career pathways in the healthcare industry, and is suitable for anyone with a passion to promote the health and well-being of individuals, contribute to the saving of lives and graceful ageing of society, while being empowered with in-demand ICT skills.
Today’s inaugural Health Tech Day is developed in support of the TechSkills Accelerator, an initiative of SkillsFuture that aims to accelerate professional development and enhance employability outcomes for ICT professionals across key economic sectors.
Related Resources
Annex A: Factsheet – TeSA Company-Led Training Programme with MSD (304.13KB)
Annex B: Factsheet – Adapt & Grow Professional Conversion Programme (335.83KB)
Annex C: Factsheet – Health Economic Management Programme by SMU (307.50KB)
JOINTLY ISSUED BY THE INFOCOMM MEDIA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND INTEGRATED HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS
About Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) leads Singapore’s digital transformation with infocomm media. To do this, IMDA will develop a dynamic digital economy and a cohesive digital society, driven by an exceptional infocomm media (ICM) ecosystem – by developing talent, strengthening business capabilities, and enhancing Singapore's ICM infrastructure. IMDA also regulates the telecommunications and media sectors to safeguard consumer interests while fostering
a pro-business environment, and enhances Singapore’s data protection regime through the Personal Data Protection Commission.
For more news and information, visit www.imda.gov.sg or follow IMDA on Facebook @IMDAsg and Twitter @IMDAsg.
About Integrated Health Information Systems (IHiS)
IHiS is a multi-award-winning healthcare IT leader that digitises, connects, and analyses Singapore’s health ecosystem. Its ultimate aim is to improve the Singapore population’s health and health administration by integrating intelligent, highly resilient, and cost effective technologies with process and people.
IHiS played a key role in helping all major public healthcare institutions become amongst the first in Asia Pacific to achieve HIMSS EMRAM Stage 6 and 7, international benchmarks for advanced technology used in patient care.
Transforming healthcare through smart technology, IHiS has garnered more than 80 awards for its innovations. It supports more than 50,000 healthcare users in Singapore’s health ecosystem through the application of clinical informatics, computer science, data science, mechatronics, standards based IT that enables information exchange and cross boundary workflows, analysis, statistical and machine learning techniques to discover insights.
For more information, visit us at www.ihis.com.sg, connect with us on Facebook and follow us on LinkedIn to learn more about the latest healthcare IT news.
About TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA)
The TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) is a tripartite initiative between the government, industry and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), to build and develop a skilled Information and Communications Technology (ICT) workforce for the Singapore economy, and to enhance employability outcomes for individuals.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), which drives TeSA for ICT professional development, takes an integrated approach to ICT skills acquisition and practitioner training – in core ICT skills and in sector-specific ICT skills – and enhance employability outcomes through place and train programmes, and career advisory services. Since April 2016, over 27,000 training places have been taken up or committed.
For media clarifications, please contact:
Infocomm Media Development Authority
Ms. Candy Pok
Assistant Manager, Communications & Marketing
DID: +65 6211 1706
Email: candy_pok@imda.gov.sg
Ms. Rozlin Vanzandt
Assistant Director, Communications & Marketing
DID: +65 6202 4940
Email: rozlin_vanzandt@imda.gov.sg
Integrated Health Information Systems
Ms Jean Louise Lee
Deputy Director, Corporate Communications
DID: +65 6594 1697 HP: 9731 3021
Email: jeanlouise.lee@ihis.com.sg
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