Korea to develop AI-driven regional smart emergency platforms
South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) has announced seven more projects under the Korean Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) initiative.
These include two AI-based emergency systems: one is a regional emergency patient classification and transfer system and the other is a multi-institutional, real-time critical patient transfer management system.
An integrated digital healthcare solution is also planned to increase staff efficiency.
There are also projects for early screening for rare cancer among teenagers and people aged 20 to 30; a system for rapid discovery and verification of new drug targets for non-immune solid cancers; medical technologies for space medicine; and a new technology that simulates immunity based on microphysiological systems.
The MOHW is now looking for partner institutions to work on these projects, which are expected to start in November. Each project has been allocated between 13 billion and 23 billion won ($9 million-$16.5 million) over the next five years. A total of 1.2 trillion won ($830 million) was earmarked for these projects until 2032.
Korea’s ARPA-H program is a series of ambitious projects that aim to solve pressing national public health and healthcare challenges. Three initial projects – developing vaccine storage technology, a decentralized vaccine production system and multimodal therapies targeting sarcopenia – were announced in July.
New features live in the Korean My Health Record app
The MOHW also recently announced updates to the My Health Record application.
The National Health Information System mobile app, With My HealthWay, users can now view the health records of their children ages 14 and younger and view information about drug allergies. It has also included a new medication reminder feature.
Recently, 144 hospitals and healthcare facilities have been connected to My Healthway, allowing users of the My Health Record app to access their health information from these institutions. This brings the total number of institutions connected to the national system to approximately 1,004.
Thai hospital collaborates with Samsung Medison
Thailand’s private healthcare group Bangkok Dusit Medical Services has entered into a partnership with Seoul-based medical device maker Samsung Medison.
According to their Memorandum of Understanding, the two companies will collaborate in areas such as medical imaging and AI.
Earlier this year, Samsung Medison has bought Sonioa French ultrasound AI startup expanding its portfolio of ultrasound diagnostics services and solutions.
Hong Kong establishes a digital healthcare alliance
The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), a government-backed international IT hub, has reached out to local companies in various digital and IT spaces to form an alliance in digital healthcare.
Their alliance, according to a press release, “aims to collectively drive the growth of (an) international digital health ecosystem.”
The first twelve partners in this alliance are expected to establish their R&D bases in the Hong Kong Science Park. It includes one of China’s largest medical institutions – General Technology Healthcare and Medical Big Data Technology (Beijing) Group Co. – and emerging technology startups such as elderly care-focused Infinity Wellness.
“This strategic initiative will raise the standard of global digital health innovation and accelerate the translation of scientific research into market-ready solutions,” said Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP.