Singapore's NHG Health has entered into a new collaboration to conduct clinical research, surgical education, and medical innovation utilising robot-assisted surgery systems.
It signed a memorandum of understanding with surgical robotics company Cornerstone Robotics and the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Under their MOU, they will focus on two strategic areas: research in telesurgical education and training and cost-effectiveness studies for extending RAS accessibility.
Cornerstone offers an endoscopic surgical robot that has completed clinical trials in mainland China and Hong Kong and has obtained the approval of China's National Medical Products Administration for clinical use.
THE LARGER TREND
The surgical robotics maker also entered into a similar collaboration with the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Medicine earlier this year. Under their MOU, they will work on projects related to training, teaching, research, and clinical application of robotic surgical systems.
Besides surgery, NHG Health has also adopted robotic technology in rehabilitation. Its flagship hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), has been providing access to robotic rehabilitation services through its Clinic for Advanced Rehabilitation Therapeutics. In 2022, it signed a master research collaboration with Chinese rehabilitation robotics company Fourier Intelligence to apply its robot for assessing balance and calculating fall risk in the settings of TTSH's community care partners.
Meanwhile, Changi General Hospital, a part of another health cluster, SingHealth, has been utilising autonomous mobile robots to complement nursing care in the emergency department.
