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A new educational pathway to train health coaches and community health professionals in AI-enabled, digitally-driven care will launch next year in Singapore.
Private education provider Kingston International College (KIC) has partnered with 1doc, the healthcare training arm of fin-medtech company iAPPS Health Group, to co-develop the programme in response to the pressing healthcare workforce shortage.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
In a media release, the companies said they plan to offer "stackable, internationally recognised qualifications," including foundational certifications, advanced diplomas, degrees, and master's programmes.
An AI-driven educational pathway, which would be the first of its kind in Singapore, will blend asynchronous e-learning with milestone-based live workshops.
iAPPS Health Group medical director Dr Eugene Loke told Healthcare IT News that the course will incorporate a range of technologies, including 1doc's proprietary AI-driven digital health tools for biological age scoring, continuous glucose monitoring, digital twin tracking, and decision support for risk alerts, red flag detection, and triage.
It will also include the HeartVoice EMR system for clinical documentation training, weight management app nBuddy, and 1doc's learning management system for interactive lessons, assessments, and reflective journaling. Case-based virtual scenarios and digital simulations for common clinic workflows, such as telehealth communication and EMR usage, will also be introduced.
Milestone sessions, including objective structured clinical examinations and group tutorials, will be either conducted in person or remotely via a conferencing platform.
"Clinical exposure is embedded throughout the course, enabling students to gain hands-on experience in community-based primary care settings," added Dr Loke.
The course is intended for post-secondary graduates, mid-career switchers, and international students from Malaysia, Taiwan, and Korea.
"To ensure inclusivity, a foundation certificate pathway is offered for students who lack O-Level or WPLN equivalency. Courses are scaffolded with bite-sized learning and regular feedback checkpoints. Learners also receive digital literacy training, especially for EMR and health apps," Dr Loke further explained.
The programme's success will be gauged through graduates' employment and clinical deployment within six months, digital health competencies, performance in capstone projects, and measurable gains in patient engagement and health literacy.
KIC and 1doc target a 2026 launch with two intakes planned for the first year. Each intake will enrol at least 25 students. Enrolment is projected to scale to 100-400 students per year from 2027 onwards.
WHY IT MATTERS
The collaboration aims to ensure that the new crop of health coaches and community health professionals are "not only clinically competent but also technologically fluent and patient-centred," Dr Loke said.
Although driven by technology – particularly AI – the digital health training pathway is being developed in close consultation with employers to meet their present and future hiring needs.
"Collaborating with employers helps us deliver graduates with recognised qualifications and practical expertise, ready to contribute from day one. As AI reshapes the workforce, this industry-led approach remains vital," said KIC CEO Ryan Goh in a statement.
THE LARGER CONTEXT
The partners are also aligning their digital health curriculum with Healthier SG’s focus on preventive care, community health, and digital enablement.
Singapore has shifted its healthcare focus from curative treatment to preventive care under the Healthier SG programme. With seniors aged 65 and above expected to make up a quarter of the population by 2030, there is an urgent need to upskill the healthcare workforce to meet the demands of an ageing society and support a more community-based, preventive, and patient-centred model of care, 1doc emphasised.
Complementing Healthier SG is the Health Promotion Board's pilot programme on self-health management. Late last year, the agency formalised partnerships with several health technology firms to run pilots using wearable devices. About 6,000 Singaporeans are expected to take part in the initiative, which aims to help individuals better manage their health through data-driven, personalised recommendations.
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Editor's note: This article has been updated to replace the term "diploma course" with "educational pathway," as KIC and 1doc continue to work through the programme approval stage.
