Digital Health Today, Asia Pacific Edition with Tony Estrella Digital Health Today

Transforming health care systems is difficult, and yet that is the goal we are trying to achieve when we are leveraging the technologies of the future to address current health care challenges. And if you're a global multinational, the challenges can be even more complicated. Your day to day can be a mix of conflicting priorities, such as in dealing with the needs of today's business while also keeping an eye on the future, a future which includes health system transformations, personalized health, and health equity.

In this episode I speak with Ahmed Elhusseiny, the area head for Roche Pharma in Asia Pacific at their offices in Singapore to discuss how a global multinational can drive change.

During this podcast Ahmed and I discuss:

The importance of being mission-oriented to address systemic health challenges

How Roche’s approach to data-driven healthcare starts with understanding unmet customer needs

Examples of Roche’s effectiveness in Public-Private Partnerships

The new Economist Whitepaper supported by Roche highlighting APAC’s un-met needs in Breast Cancer


About Ahmend
Ahmed Elhusseiny has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for nearly 20 years, working across Europe, North America and Asia. He has a strong track record of developing and implementing comprehensive strategies for innovative health therapies. Prior to joining Roche in 2013, he was at Novartis for ten years, where he led various business units, including Ophthalmology and Primary Care.

Guest's Links and Resources


Connect with Ahmed: LinkedIn


Visit Roche

Episode PDF


Host's Links and Resources:


Connect with Tony Estrella: Twitter | LinkedIn | Personal Website



Connect with Taliossa



Read Tony’s Book: Comatose



FutureProofing Healthcare | FutureProofing Healthcare APAC index


Full White Paper, Summary and Video: A Vision for Asia Pacific in 2050



Follow Digital Health Today:
Browse Episodes | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
Follow Health Podcast Network:
Browse Shows | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Digital Health Today is made possible by the support of our sponsors.
Special thanks to:

Amalgam Rx | Bayer G4A | Lindus Health | LSI

A key driver to create the future of health in both personalized health and health equity is innovation, an innovation that comes from technology. Startups who are creating disruptive products and services are typically fueled by venture capital investors. But how can startups and investors align with future end customers to create the health ecosystems of tomorrow?
In this episode, I speak with Scarlett Chen, Managing Partner at Verge HealthTech Fund. Throughout her career she's helped drive business growth as both an investor and through m & a.
During this podcast Scarlett and I discuss:

Defining HealthTech and why it is a necessary element for the future of health

About Verge as a fund and their focus on returns and impact

Trends and challenges in health tech investments from Verge’s State of HealthTech events

How to become a health tech / digital health success story

Thoughts on the next 18 months in HealthTech


About Scarlett Chenn
Ms Scarlett Chen is Managing Partner at Verge HealthTech Fund, a VC fund manager focused exclusively on impactful HealthTech startups at a global scale and at the early stage.
Previously as Managing Director at Prudential Corporation Asia, Ms Chen was responsible for Strategic Investments. Before Prudential, Ms. Chen worked at Anbang Capital as Global Head of Financial Institutions Group where she led a number of outbound investments in Europe and Asia.
Before joining the buy-side, Ms. Chen was an investment banker for over a decade, having worked at Merrill Lynch in the US and Barclays in Hong Kong, where she executed more than US$30 billion in capital markets and advisory transactions.
Guest's Links and Resources


Connect with Scarlett Chenn: LinkedIn


Visit Verge HealthTech Fund

Episode PDF


Host's Links and Resources:


Connect with Tony Estrella: Twitter | LinkedIn | Personal Website



Connect with Taliossa



Read Tony’s Book: Comatose



FutureProofing Healthcare | FutureProofing Healthcare APAC index


Full White Paper, Summary and Video: A Vision for Asia Pacific in 2050



Follow Digital Health Today:
Browse Episodes | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
Follow Health Podcast Network:
Browse Shows | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Digital Health Today is made possible by the support of our sponsors.
Special thanks to:

Amalgam Rx | Bayer G4A | Lindus Health | LSI

Health systems are faced with many choices when it comes to population health.  Increasing costs for sick care, decisions on which innovations they can approve and afford, and evolving medical practices in both prevention and treatment which can challenge existing regulatory norms. 

In this episode, I speak with Clive Tan, a Founding Member of Precision Public Health Asia Society to discuss how their work is serving to harmonise the decisions the ASEAN region is making to improve population health. The Society recently held their biennial event in Singapore, including esteemed speakers including Singapore’s Minister of Health Ye Kun Ong.  

During this podcast Clive and I discuss:

The definition of "precision public health" and how it has evolved over the past decade

Singapore’s HealthierSG programme

How economic growth in ASEAN countries is impacting public health priorities

Main takeaways from the leadership forum in terms of country development and collaboration opportunities

The regulatory opportunities discussed at the leadership forum


About Clive Tan
Clive Tan is a medical doctor and Public Health specialist with close to two decades of clinical and leadership experience in the healthcare sector. As Assistant Chief of Group Integrated Care (Population Health) in the National Healthcare Group, he is responsible for strategic planning for integrated care and population health efforts for the 1.5 million residents in the Central-North region of Singapore. His work in care integration incorporates value-based care, behavioral change incentives, payment models, healthcare quality and digitalization – with a strong emphasis on place-based care and relationship-based care. He holds a MBBS from Singapore and a Masters in Public Health (MPH) from Johns Hopkins University, along with certificates in Gerontology, Humanitarian Assistance and Health Informatics (AMIA). He is also an Atlantic Fellow in the Equity Initiative Programme, which works in South-East Asia to reduce health inequities. Together with the National University of Singapore’s School of Public Health and the Precision Public Health Asia Society, he recently published the White Paper on Responsible Data Sharing in Health and Healthcare in May 2022, which outlines useful and practical steps that stakeholders can take to build a more progressive state of data sharing in the health sector. He is a Founding Member of the Precision Public Health Asia Society, and was the organizing chairperson for the Precision Public Health Asia Conference, held in Singapore in July 2023. He is an adjunct Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore’s School of Public Health where he teaches healthcare management, digital health and data sharing in health.
Guest's Links and Resources


Connect with Clive Tan: LinkedIn


Visit Precision Public Health Asia Society

Definition of ASEAN


Host's Links and Resources:


Connect with Tony Estrella: Twitter | LinkedIn | Personal Website



Connect with Taliossa



Read Tony’s Book: Comatose



FutureProofing Healthcare | FutureProofing Healthcare APAC index


Full White Paper, Summary and Video: A Vision for Asia Pacific in 2050



Follow Digital Health Today:
Browse Episodes | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
Follow Health Podcast Network:
Browse Shows | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Digital Health Today is made possible by the support of our sponsors.
Special thanks to:

Amalgam Rx | Bayer G4A | Lindus Health | LSI

Today, we are more fascinated than ever by how Artificial Intelligence can affect the future of any industry, including healthcare. But AI alone can’t solve healthcare. To make an impact, solutions built with AI have to fit into the right ecosystem to enable better consumer journeys and health outcomes.

In this episode, I speak with Prashant Warier, the co-founder and CEO of Qure. Over the past 6 years, he’s learned how to convert the promise of how Artificial Intelligence can be used in Healthcare into three clear use-cases that solve the needs of millions of people across 80 countries.

During this podcast, we discuss:

• The value of mentors and advisors to help identify disruptive opportunities that drive exponential change in healthcare
• How a background in Data Science changed the way to develop effective AI products
• The three clear use-cases for AI and Radiology that led to reaching millions of people across 80 countries by focusing on autonomous X-Ray interpretation
• How a team of 250 people can scale by building effective partnerships with organisations like Astra Zeneca and the NHS

About Prashant Warier
Prashant Warier is Founder and CEO of Qure.ai, a leading Artificial Intelligence company in Radiology. He is an expert in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning and has architected and commercialized several AI solutions during his career. His work has been published in journals such as The Lancet and Nature. He is passionate about using AI and machine learning to make healthcare affordable and accessible. Prashant is an evangelist for the adoption of AI in radiology and has given multiple TedX talks, including one at the largest TedX event in the world in Mumbai. In the past, Prashant was Chief Data Scientist at Fractal.ai and also founded AI - powered advertising technology startup Imagna which was acquired by Fractal.ai in 2015.

Guest's Links and Resources


Connect with Prashant Warier: LinkedIn


Qure.ai

Qure Impact Page

NHS AI Toolkit

Global Health AI Tool Kit (for SEA and India)

Episode PDF


Host's Links and Resources:


Connect with Tony Estrella: Twitter | LinkedIn | Personal Website



Connect with Taliossa



Read Tony’s Book: Comatose



FutureProofing Healthcare | FutureProofing Healthcare APAC index


Full White Paper, Summary and Video: A Vision for Asia Pacific in 2050


Follow Digital Health Today:
Browse Episodes | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Follow Health Podcast Network:
Browse Shows | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Digital Health Today is made possible by the support of our sponsors. Special thanks to:

Amalgam Rx | Bayer G4A | Lindus Health | LSI

Engaging with active and well-informed individuals is the essential element of any successful health ecosystem. Without them, healthcare and digital health companies are building solutions that can’t improve health outcomes. Patient advocacy groups are one way that individuals can become empowered. But across the world, the impact of such groups is dependent on external factors to help them achieve scale. In this episode, I speak with Ruth Kuguru, the Regional Head for Communications and Patient Engagement for Novartis who has developed a platform to change this dynamic for patient advocacy groups. During this podcast, we discuss:

How Novartis created a platform to bring together different stakeholders and putting patients at the forefront of improving Habitats – another word for Ecosystems

Describing the components of the Alliance & Partnerships for Patient Innovation & Solutions (APPIS) including a case study in the Philippines

Why patient advocacy groups are the “real deal” for creating engaged individuals

Scaling the impact of patient advocacy into a corporate capability that goes beyond the traditional model for pharma manufacturers


About Ruth Kuguru
Ruth Kuguru is the Executive Director, Communications & Patient Engagement for Novartis Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. In her role, she leads her team to foster open, inclusive, and strong partnerships with patient communities, media, and healthcare leaders in Asia Pacific, Middle East and African countries. She is passionate about the impact strong collaboration can have in accelerating access and developing innovative solutions for patients.

Guest's Links and Resources


Connect with Ruth Kuguru: LinkedIn



Novartis: Website


APPIS Summit

APPIS Innovator Programme


Host's Links and Resources:


Connect with Tony Estrella: Twitter | LinkedIn | Personal Website



Connect with Taliossa



Read Tony’s Book: Comatose



FutureProofing Healthcare | FutureProofing Healthcare APAC index


Full White Paper, Summary and Video: A Vision for Asia Pacific in 2050


Follow Digital Health Today:
Browse Episodes | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Follow Health Podcast Network:
Browse Shows | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Digital Health Today is made possible by the support of our sponsors. Special thanks to:

Amalgam Rx | Akili | Bayer G4A | Lindus Health

Join host Tony Estrella each month as he explores with his guests what it takes to build successful ecosystems across Asia-Pacific.
You’ll hear thought-provoking interviews with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors who bring real-life examples of building effective partnerships that solve some of the most important healthcare challenges across this vibrant region.
Whether you’re already in healthcare, a tech enthusiast, or simply curious about what is happening in Asia-Pacific, tune in to the APAC Edition of Digital Health Today.

Host's Links and Resources:


Connect with Tony Estrella: Twitter | LinkedIn | Personal Website



Connect with Taliossa



Read Tony’s Book: Comatose



FutureProofing Healthcare | FutureProofing Healthcare APAC index


Full White Paper, Summary and Video: A Vision for Asia Pacific in 2050


Follow Digital Health Today:
Browse Episodes | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Follow Health Podcast Network:
Browse Shows | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Digital Health Today is made possible by the support of our sponsors. Special thanks to:

Amalgam Rx | Akili | Bayer G4A | Lindus Health