THE sixth edition of the Healthcare Infrastructure Technology and Engineering Conference (HI.TEC) saw more than 300 local and international delegates in attendance at the MAX Atria @ Singapore EXPO on 27 and 28 March.

The theme this year was Designing for Future Healthcare: Technology and Beyond. In his speech, guest-of-honour Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong highlighted the need to think out of the box and experiment with game-changing innovations that can be scaled up for transformation. He added that these new technologies have the potential to improve the way Singapore’s healthcare facilities are designed. He also applauded MOHH’s initiative to develop a framework that outlines smart strategies for future public healthcare facilities in Singapore.

“Through this exercise, we aim to map out the smart strategies applicable to public healthcare facilities with the aim of improving patient safety, patient experience, streamlining workflow, and increasing productivity,” he said in his speech.

Delegates – comprising healthcare policy makers, leaders, academics and healthcare development professionals – gained invaluable insights through the presentations at the two-day event. The panel discussions also sparked some gripping conversations between moderators, panellists and delegates.

“HI.TEC is a wonderful place for us to see how healthcare practices are changing around the world. It also gives us opportunities to catch a glimpse of the future of healthcare. Overall, it was such a great experience!” said Mr Riku Makela, Counsellor at the Embassy of Finland in Singapore.

This year, HI.TEC’s organising committee welcomed two international partners, the French Chamber of Commerce and Embassy of Finland, both in Singapore. HI.TEC is featured as an event under the France-Singapore Year of Innovation 2018. Held in conjunction with the conference was the InnoShow, an exhibition featuring state-of-the-art technologies and latest innovations in healthcare from Finland, France, Germany and Singapore. HI.TEC closed with the delegates taking a tour of Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and the Enabling Village.

“This is the sixth time that I am attending this conference. It is a good meeting point for us to get updated on some of the new technologies and practices used in the development of hospital infrastructure,” said manager Rick Aw from China Construction (South Pacific) Development.