How AI is changing the future of Singapore’s health consultations

Healthcare organisations are fast recognising the need to embrace AI technology for increased efficiency. Singapore Ministry of Health’s commitment of SG$200 million (US$150 million) to implement AI underpins a “centralised push” for adoption of the technology nationwide, presenting the opportunity for healthcare leaders to start building a roadmap for integration into consultant-led care.

With the government’s Healthier SG initiative, the establishment of platforms such as HEALIX for AI model development, and the rollout of tools like Note Buddy and HealthHub AI, Singapore is making it clear: AI will not replace doctors, but it will reshape how consultations happen across the continuum of care.

AI redefining the healthcare consultant’s role

Next-gen AI is already augmenting consultant-led care, from guiding junior doctors and offering prognostic insights in fields like oncology and cardiology to supporting recovery, pain management, rehabilitation and fall prevention.

Traditionally, Singapore’s healthcare has been consultant-led in hospitals—specialists bearing responsibility for patient management. The push toward primary care through Healthier SG is making GPs the cornerstone of population health. AI serves as a force multiplier by helping GPs manage larger patient loads through risk stratification, early detection and tailored prevention, while enabling consultants to boost diagnostic accuracy and streamline decision-making in complex cases.

The future consultation model will blend GP-led preventive care with consultant oversight for specialised needs, with AI seamlessly supporting both ends.

Enhancing core consultant responsibilities

There are six ways in which AI can support the role of healthcare consultants:

1. Augmenting Clinical Decision-Making – AI-driven decision support systems can provide junior doctors and consultants with real-time summaries of relevant guidelines, emerging therapies, and complex clinical protocols. Gen AI models can distil huge volumes of literature, highlight dedicated treatments for rare diseases, and identify medication programmes tailored to the patient’s genomic and clinical profile.

2. Enhanced Diagnostics & Imaging – AI tools in radiology, pathology, and dermatology speed up anomaly detection and improve accuracy. In Singapore, AI-driven chest X-ray prioritisation cuts turnaround times for urgent cases. With AI-enhanced spatial computing (AR/VR), consultants can view scans in 3D for surgical planning, interactive medical training, and clearer patient consultations.

3. Prognostic Modelling, Specialist-Level Insights and Predictive Risk Stratification – Advanced AI models forecast patient trajectories, helping consultants predict adverse events, assess treatment effectiveness, and plan long-term care.

4. Streamlining Administrative Burdens – AI streamlines documentation, condensing patient histories, summarising regulations, and automating record-keeping. Tools like AI Scribe convert spoken notes into structured, HL7 FHIR-compliant EHRs, freeing consultants to focus on complex decisions and patient care while ensuring compliance and data accessibility.

5. Next-Generation Care for Rare and Complex Therapies – AI systems can continuously monitor research, clinical trials, and guidelines, alerting consultants to breakthrough treatments. These systems can highlight newly approved biologics for rare bone disorders and integrate personalised genomic data (including genes and DNA) for targeted therapies.

6. Patient Engagement and Communication and Multidisciplinary Collaboration – Generative AI creates tailored patient education materials, improves adherence, and powers chatbots for routine queries and reminders. Tools like Note Buddy draft clinical notes and discharge summaries, while integrated AI platforms consolidate inputs across care teams to enhance coordination and decision-making.

Governance is key to responsible and successful AI

Employing trustworthy AI means adhering to ethical and regulatory considerations. Singapore recently became a pioneer country to join the HealthAI Global Regulatory Network (GRN), a global network of health regulators dedicated to the safe and effective use of AI in healthcare. The move signals Singapore’s commitment to champion a trusted, effective, and equitable AI ecosystem in healthcare and its recognition that the future of consultations is not just about algorithms but also trust.

For patients, this means confidence that AI supports rather than replaces doctors, with clinicians remaining accountable for decisions, and patient data protected under strict healthcare governance and PDPA rules.

Transparent algorithms and interpretability features are important to maintain clinician trust and auditable decision-making paths will ensure that AI’s role remains advisory and accountable.

Human supervision and validation by consultants are essential to ensure system performance is enhanced over time. As consultants remain central to clinical judgment, AI recommendations must be validated and, when appropriate, challenged by human expertise. Continuous feedback loops, where clinicians endorse or reject AI suggestions, will ensure AI is optimised for the best patient care outcomes.

The future of healthcare will be defined by AI working hand-in-hand with human expertise. From predicting disease risks and tailoring precision treatments to creating digital twins for personalised care, AI offers clinicians powerful tools to improve outcomes. AI is set to be a powerful ally to consultants in shaping a healthcare system that is more predictive, personalised and efficient.