THE BIGGER PICTURE
Benches, apps and post-natal screenings may seem like unrelated stories. But together, they show what a population health approach is about. It is a new way of thinking that helps us see how everyday things in our lives are linked to health and how we can make those connections stronger to help people stay healthy.
Turning these ideas and research, however, takes time and effort. Population health studies often take years. Researchers also have to manage shifting real-world conditions such as participants dropping out, keeping pace with new policies or community needs evolving faster than the study.
Turning research into real change takes combined efforts across government agencies and time for initiatives to take form.
This is where population health complements conventional healthcare. While doctors and nurses in our healthcare institutions focus on treating illness, population health takes a broader view. It works quietly in the background to help Singaporeans live longer and healthier lives by preventing disease, creating healthier environments and intervening early.
So, the next time you see a senior resting on a park bench or someone tracking their steps on a smartwatch, remember that small moments are part of a bigger vision of healthcare that goes beyond treating illness.
Associate Professor Low Lian Leng is Director of the SingHealth Centre for Population Health Research and Implementation (CPHRI).
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