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Straits Times
a day ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Polyclinic patients to trial AI tool that reads heart rate and blood pressure with just a phone camera
By analysing a 30-second video of a user's face, the tool is able to detect levels of blood flow in specific facial regions such as the forehead, cheeks and nose. PHOTO: SINGHEALTH POLYCLINICS Polyclinic patients to trial AI tool that reads heart rate and blood pressure with just a phone camera SINGAPORE - An artificial intelligence tool that allows people to measure their heart rate and blood pressure with just a phone camera will be tested by a group of polyclinic patients in the coming months. DeepHealthVision, developed by South Korean digital health company injewelme, will be trialled here in collaboration with SingHealth Polyclinics (SHP). By analysing a 30-second video of a user's face, the tool can detect levels of blood flow in specific facial regions such as the forehead, cheeks and nose, producing accurate readings of both heart rate and blood pressure without the need for external medical devices such as blood pressure monitors and oximeters. 'For example, someone who has high blood pressure or heart rate commonly presents with flushed skin,' said injewelme's chief business development officer Nathan Cheong on June 20, at the 10th Asia Pacific Primary Care Research Conference 2025 held at Academia at the Singapore General Hospital Campus. The accuracy of measurement is not affected by skin colour, he added. Apart from phones, patients can also use the cameras in other devices such as laptops and tablets. Clinical Associate Professor Tan Ngiap Chuan, director of research and Primary Care Research Institute at SHP, said this would make healthcare monitoring more accessible and convenient by eliminating the need for expensive medical devices and frequent clinic visits. A check by The Straits Times found that digital blood pressure monitors can cost anywhere between $50 and $300. 'This system also facilitates continuous remote health monitoring, allowing healthcare professionals to detect health issues before they become serious, enable earlier intervention, and potentially reducing hospitalisations,' said Prof Tan. Mr Cheong said there are also plans to integrate injewelme's AI prediction model DeepHealthNet into DeepHealthVision, which would allow healthcare professionals to access patients' vital signs so that they can make more informed clinical decisions, instead of relying only on limited information collected during visits to the doctor. More than 100,000 people in South Korea have tested out DeepHealthVision, while around 30 healthcare professionals in Singapore were able to try their hand at it during a recent live demonstration . During the demonstration here, the accuracy of DeepHealthVision's heart rate and blood pressure readings was around 96 per cent, when compared with readings taken by Omron blood pressure monitors or Samsung Galaxy smartwatches, said Mr Cheong. Prof Tan said around 60 polyclinic patients will be involved in the pilot test of this tool in the coming months, which would include those with and without hypertension, and others who are interested in knowing more about their own vascular health. He said: 'We want to find out whether local patients are confident in using the technology, whether they accept it, and if they have any concerns. Because if they have concerns, they might not use it on a regular basis.' The pilot test is expected to run for at least a year, during which the data collected will be analysed and subjected to peer review. If the trial is successful, DeepHealthVision may be integrated into healthcare apps such as Health Buddy in the future. The team is also working to enable blood glucose monitoring and skin analysis down the line. In May, SHP also signed memorandums of understanding with two other South Korean companies, YoungAnd and Monit. SHP is collaborating with YoungAnd on Brain Health Playground, an interactive platform designed for patients to play games that support cognitive function. SHP will also trial a tool developed by Monit to assess diaper contamination levels with the use of sensors and an AI-driven pattern learning algorithm. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
New Paper
14-06-2025
- New Paper
False address cases rise over past five years as P1 registration exercise fuels housing demand
More parents have been caught providing false residential addresses in the past five years to secure spots for their children in popular primary schools. While the Ministry of Education (MOE) used to investigate an average of around one case a year between 2008 and 2018, this figure jumped to about nine cases annually from 2020 to 2024. There were no cases reported in 2019. A 41-year-old woman was charged on June 5 with lying about her home address to enrol her daughter in a primary school. According to court documents, the woman gave false information to the principal and vice-principal of the school between June and September 2024, during a Primary 1 registration exercise. "The MOE takes a serious view of parents providing false information for the purpose of enrolling their child in a particular school under the Primary 1 registration exercise," said the ministry on June 13, in response to queries from The Straits Times. It added that the increase in cases of non-compliance in the past five years could be due to a "combination of factors" including public awareness, checks by schools and whistle-blower feedback. MOE said it investigates all reported cases of non-compliance, including cases where parents rent properties and use the rental address for P1 registration but did not reside there for at least 30 months. Under the P1 registration exercise, MOE uses a home-school distance priority system to allocate places when demand exceeds vacancies. Priority is given first to Singapore citizens living within 1km of the school, then those between 1km and 2km, and lastly those outside 2km. The 30-month stay requirement applies to children securing a place using a new address that offers more priority. The new address must be reflected on both parents' NRICs during the P1 registration, and families must live at that address for at least 30 months from move-in. MOE said: "When wrongdoings are found, or where parents are unable to provide evidence that information provided during the P1 registration exercise was true and accurate, the child will be transferred to a school with vacancies near where the family and child are residing, and parents will have no say in the choice of the school." Parents caught providing false information are also referred to police for investigation, the ministry added. Motivation that moves the property market Ms Grace Cheong, a property agent, has witnessed how the annual P1 registration exercises have long influenced Singapore's real estate market. "This is the kind of motivation that moves the market," said Ms Cheong, who has been in the industry since 2009. The demand for homes within 1km of sought-after schools, she added, "transcends uncertainty", whether it is economic downturns or pandemics. Every year, home buyers flock to neighbourhoods like Newton and Bukit Timah, drawn by their proximity to schools such as Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) and Singapore Chinese Girls' School. The District 15 area of East Coast and Marine Parade is also highly sought-after due to its proximity to schools like Tao Nan Primary School and CHIJ Katong Primary School. "It's a constant, stable source of demand," said Ms Cheong. "Parents with children heading to primary school are the movers and shakers of the property market." Other property agents whom ST spoke to said that while the demand is stable, younger couples are starting to plan for their child's schooling needs much earlier ahead of when their child turns six and needs to register for P1. Ms Tammy Sim said demand has remained consistent for housing around popular primary schools like Raffles Girls' Primary School and Methodist Girls' School, be it for lease or purchase. "What we have seen that's being done differently would be younger couples starting to plan for schooling needs much earlier," she said. "From as young as when the child is one or two years old, parents start to look into the location for a unit to purchase." Ms Wendeline Goh, a property agent since 2012, said that she has had clients who started looking from as early as when their child turned three, and who began financial planning for the sale of their current property and purchase of their next home. "As their next residence can entail a high jump in pricing due to good schools being located in more prime areas, planning ahead is crucial." One of her clients moved from Choa Chu Kang to one-north to secure a spot in a school in Dover, while another moved from Compassvale to Mount Sinai. The motivation for children to excel and get into the "best school" is still high, said Ms Sim, adding that parents want to give their children a good head start. "This translates into the natural demand for properties around specific schools." Some parents are even prepared to live with the trade-offs. Ms Cheong said some compromise on layout or room size just to secure a unit within the radius of their preferred school. "This momentum - uprooting from where you are and moving near a school - is created by the system," she said. "As long as that policy's in place, it'll continue to fuel demand." Finding the best fit for their child A 40-year-old civil servant, who wanted to be known only as Mrs Cheng, said she downsized from a five-room HDB flat in Serangoon North to a 2.5 room condo in Newton to be within 1km of Anglo-Chinese School (Junior). "We chose ACSJ because we heard it's more accommodating to neurodivergent kids," said the mother of a Primary 2 boy, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. "We also hoped that he can be brought up in a Christian environment, especially during his formative years." Mrs Cheng and her husband began house-hunting two years before the P1 registration window. "Previously, the school in our old neighbourhood was too academically focused, and we felt that it will be unsuitable for our son," she said. The move was motivated by the school's values and fit for her son, and not social pressure or academic prestige, Mrs Cheng added. While the move was worth it, as her son got into the choice school, she said she missed her old neighbourhood and the friendly neighbours, as well as living in a bigger home. A 49-year-old homemaker, who wanted to be known only as Madam Chong, had planned her move early for the sake of her sons' primary school education. The family had its sights set on ACSJ for its Methodist roots and emphasis on character building. "ACSJ naturally was our top pick," she said. While cost was a major concern, early preparation paid off. "There were many competitors... but we had time to wait it out for something suitable," she said. The unit they eventually bought was "ideal" in terms of cost, size and walkability to school. "I have two boys, so the move would guarantee at least 10 years of education in the school per kid, and future grandsons," she said. "There's also potential upside when we sell the unit too, so I'll say (the move) was worth it." Another parent, who declined to be named, said he moved from Sengkang to Ulu Pandan in 2024 to prepare for the 2025 P1 registration exercise. The 39-year-old, who works in the finance industry, wanted to live within 1km of a school with a "good reputation and long history", and one that was not too competitive in the ballot. After researching historical ballot results for Phase 2C, the family landed on Henry Park Primary School. With the move and his qualification as a parent volunteer, he hopes to secure a spot in the school for his child in 2026. "We had low expectations of the move, as Ulu Pandan had no nearby MRT, but we were pleasantly surprised and appreciate the serenity of the area," he said, given that their previous home was near an expressway.
Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Straits Times
False address cases rise over past five years as P1 registration exercise fuels housing demand
SINGAPORE – More parents have been caught providing false residential addresses in the past five years to secure spots for their children in popular primary schools. While the Ministry of Education (MOE) used to investigate an average of around one case a year between 2008 and 2018, this figure jumped to about nine cases annually from 2020 to 2024. There were no cases reported in 2019. A 41-year-old woman was charged on June 5 with lying about her home address to enrol her daughter in a primary school. According to court documents, the woman gave false information to the principal and vice-principal of the school between June and September 2024, during a Primary 1 registration exercise. 'The MOE takes a serious view of parents providing false information for the purpose of enrolling their child in a particular school under the Primary 1 registration exercise,' said the ministry on June 13, in response to queries from The Straits Times. It added that the increase in cases of non-compliance in the past five years could be due to a 'combination of factors' including public awareness, checks by schools and whistle-blower feedback. MOE said it investigates all reported cases of non-compliance, including cases where parents rent properties and use the rental address for P1 registration but did not reside there for at least 30 months. Under the P1 registration exercise, MOE uses a home-school distance priority system to allocate places when demand exceeds vacancies. Priority is given first to Singapore citizens living within 1km of the school, then those between 1km and 2km, and lastly those outside 2km. The 30-month stay requirement applies to children securing a place using a new address that offers more priority. The new address must be reflected on both parents' NRICs during the P1 registration, and families must live at that address for at least 30 months from move-in. MOE said: 'When wrongdoings are found, or where parents are unable to provide evidence that information provided during the P1 registration exercise was true and accurate, the child will be transferred to a school with vacancies near where the family and child are residing, and parents will have no say in the choice of the school.' Parents caught providing false information are also referred to police for investigation, the ministry added. Motivation that moves the property market Ms Grace Cheong , a property agent, has witnessed how the annual P1 registration exercises have long influenced Singapore's real estate market. 'This is the kind of motivation that moves the market,' said Ms Cheong, who has been in the industry since 2009. The demand for homes within 1km of sought-after schools, she added, 'transcends uncertainty', whether it is economic downturns or pandemics. Every year, home buyers flock to neighbourhoods like Newton and Bukit Timah, drawn by their proximity to schools such as Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) and Singapore Chinese Girls' School. The District 15 area of East Coast and Marine Parade is also highly sought-after due to its proximity to schools like Tao Nan Primary School and CHIJ Katong Primary School. 'It's a constant, stable source of demand,' said Ms Cheong. 'Parents with children heading to primary school are the movers and shakers of the property market.' Other property agents whom ST spoke to said that while the demand is stable, younger couples are starting to plan for their child's schooling needs much earlier ahead of when their child turns six and needs to register for P1. Ms Tammy Si m said demand has remained consistent for housing around popular primary schools like Raffles Girls' Primary School and Methodist Girls' School, be it for lease or purchase. 'What we have seen that's being done differently would be younger couples starting to plan for schooling needs much earlier,' she said. 'From as young as when the child is one or two years old, parents start to look into the location for a unit to purchase.' Ms Wendeline Goh, a property agent since 2012, said that she has had clients who started looking from as early as when their child turned three, and who began financial planning for the sale of their current property and purchase of their next home. 'As their next residence can entail a high jump in pricing due to good schools being located in more prime areas, planning ahead is crucial.' One of her clients moved from Choa Chu Kang to one-north to secure a spot in a school in Dover, while another moved from Compassvale to Mount Sinai. The motivation for children to excel and get into the 'best school' is still high, said Ms Sim, adding that parents want to give their children a good head start. 'This translates into the natural demand for properties around specific schools.' Some parents are even prepared to live with the trade-offs. Ms Cheong said some compromise on layout or room size just to secure a unit within the radius of their preferred school. 'T his momentum – uprooting from where you are and moving near a school – is created by the system,' she said. 'As long as that policy's in place, it'll continue to fuel demand.' Finding the best fit for their child A 40-year-old civil servant, who wanted to be known only as Mrs Cheng, said she downsized from a five-room HDB flat in Serangoon North to a 2.5 room condo in Newton to be within 1km of Anglo-Chinese School (Junior). 'We chose ACSJ because we heard it's more accommodating to neurodivergent kids,' said the mother of a Primary 2 boy, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. 'We also hoped that he can be brought up in a Christian environment, especially during his formative years.' Mrs Cheng and her husband began house-hunting two years before the P1 registration window. 'P reviously, the school in our old neighbourhood was too academically focused, and we felt that it will be unsuitable for our son,' she said. The move was motivated by the school's values and fit for her son, and not social pressure or academic prestige, Mrs Cheng added. While the move was worth it, as her son got into the choice school, she said she missed her old neighbourhood and the friendly neighbours, as well as living in a bigger home. A 49-year-old homemaker, who wanted to be known only as Madam Chong, had planned her move early for the sake of her sons' primary school education. The family had its sights set on ACSJ for its Methodist roots and emphasis on character building. 'ACSJ naturally was our top pick,' she said. While cost was a major concern, early preparation paid off. 'There were many competitors... but we had time to wait it out for something suitable,' she said. The unit they eventually bought was 'ideal' in terms of cost, size and walkability to school. 'I have two boys, so the move would guarantee at least 10 years of education in the school per kid, and future grandsons,' she said. 'There's also potential upside when we sell the unit too, so I'll say (the move) was worth it.' Another parent, who declined to be named, said he moved from Sengkang to Ulu Pandan in 2024 to prepare for the 2025 P1 registration exercise. The 39-year-old, who works in the finance industry, wanted to live within 1km of a school with a 'good reputation and long history', and one that was not too competitive in the ballot. After researching historical ballot results for Phase 2C, the family landed on Henry Park Primary School. With the move and his qualification as a parent volunteer, he hopes to secure a spot in the school for his child in 2026. 'We had low expectations of the move, as Ulu Pandan had no nearby MRT, but we were pleasantly surprised and appreciate the serenity of the area,' he said, given that their previous home was near an expressway. Gabrielle Chan is a journalist at The Straits Times, and covers everything related to education in Singapore. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Business Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Iron ore markets head for shake-up as Singapore-linked Simandou nears production
[SINGAPORE] Global iron ore trade is facing a pivotal shift as Simandou, a massive iron ore mine in Guinea being developed by a Singapore conglomerate, is about to ramp up supply of the ferrous mineral. Estimated at 2.4 billion tonnes of high-grade iron ore as one of the world's richest untapped deposits, and projected to start production by end-2025, Simandou is a strategic project for China as it aims to diversify its suppliers from Australia and Brazil – the two countries together accounting for about 80 per cent of seaborne iron ore exports. As a long-anticipated supply disruptor, the project is closely monitored by the iron ore industry, which is also betting on India to absorb demand lost in China, based on panel discussions during Singapore International Ferrous Week. Two blocks of the mining concession are being developed by Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS), a joint venture led by Singapore-based mine-to-shipping conglomerate Winning International Group. This is in partnership with China Shandong Weiqiao Group and state-owned China Baowu Steel Group. The remaining two blocks are under a Simfer joint venture, led by British-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto, in partnership with China's Chalco Iron Ore, and the Guinea government. At full capacity, the mine is projected to produce up to 120 million tonnes of high-grade iron ore (about 65 per cent iron content) annually. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up Trade implications Cheong Jin Yu, head of Baltic Exchange Asia, told The Business Times that Baltic Exchange is keeping an eye on the development of Simandou as a key force to change trade routes of iron ore. 'What I would imagine would happen is that, if and when Simandou becomes a consistent supplier into the iron ore market, the (Baltic Exchange's) advisory council will tell us it's time to start pricing a route out of. So it will be a West Africa-to-China route,' he said. He added that once an index is established, the exchange would then develop different tools such as futures for the new index for market players to manage freight volatilities. The impact of Simandou's supply on key iron ore routes such as China-Australia hinges on actual cargo flows, Cheong said, with markets awaiting clarity. Vamsi Goutam, chief commercial officer of Tata Steel Minerals Canada, said during a panel that Simandou's supply could push up volumes and potentially freight rates in the Atlantic trades. He expects 'freight balancing' as shipping capacity might not pick up at the same rate as the steep increase in dry bulk volume. De-risking for iron ore producers The expected influx of high-grade iron ore from Simandou might worsen an oversupply situation as China's demand growth softens, which would put more pressure on iron ore producers. 'A lot of producers who are high on the cost curves will come under pressure,' said Claire Chong, senior analyst of Thurlestone Shipping, noting that their operational resilience will come into play. Francois Lavoie, senior vice-president of sales of technical market and product development at Champion Iron, said that as Simandou is 'mixing things up', small producers such as Champion Iron are trying to diversify offerings as part of their de-risk strategy. This includes converting production into iron ore of even higher grades and lower impurities, he noted. India's rising appetite Baltic Exchange's Cheong noted that the industry is also monitoring how iron ore imports to India would evolve, as the second-largest steel producer in the world ramps up its production. Paul Bartholomew, lead analyst of S&P Global Commodity Insights, noted that India is expected to emerge as a major iron ore importer, with the import forecast in 2026 to more than double from 2024's imports. However, Thurlestone Shipping's Chong noted that despite a rising projection, India's iron ore imports are still 'too small to compare with China's'. While India's iron ore import is expected to hit more than 130 million tonnes, China's iron ore imports are projected to stay above 1.1 billion tonnes to 2035, S&P Global indicated.
Business Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Iron ore markets brace for shake-up as Singapore-linked Simandou nears production
[SINGAPORE] Global iron ore trade is facing a pivotal shift as Simandou, a massive iron ore mine in Guinea being developed by a Singapore conglomerate, is about to ramp up supply of the ferrous mineral. Estimated at 2.4 billion tonnes of high-grade iron ore as one of the world's richest untapped deposits, and projected to start production by end-2025, Simandou is a strategic project for China as it aims to diversify its suppliers from Australia and Brazil – the two countries together accounting for about 80 per cent of seaborne iron ore exports. As a long-anticipated supply disruptor, the project is closely monitored by the iron ore industry, which is also betting on India to absorb demand lost in China, based on panel discussions during Singapore International Ferrous Week. Two blocks of the mining concession are being developed by Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS), a joint venture led by Singapore-based mine-to-shipping conglomerate Winning International Group. This is in partnership with China Shandong Weiqiao Group and state-owned China Baowu Steel Group. The remaining two blocks are under a Simfer joint venture, led by British-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto, in partnership with China's Chalco Iron Ore, and the Guinea government. At full capacity, the mine is projected to produce up to 120 million tonnes of high-grade iron ore (about 65 per cent iron content) annually. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up Trade implications Cheong Jin Yu, head of Baltic Exchange Asia, told The Business Times that Baltic Exchange is keeping an eye on the development of Simandou as a key force to change trade routes of iron ore. 'What I would imagine would happen is that, if and when Simandou becomes a consistent supplier into the iron ore market, the (Baltic Exchange's) advisory council will tell us it's time to start pricing a route out of. So it will be a West Africa-to-China route,' he said. He added that once an index is established, the exchange would then develop different tools such as futures for the new index for market players to manage freight volatilities. The impact of Simandou's supply on key iron ore routes such as China-Australia hinges on actual cargo flows, Cheong said, with markets awaiting clarity. Vamsi Goutam, chief commercial officer of Tata Steel Minerals Canada, said during a panel that Simandou's supply could push up volumes and potentially freight rates in the Atlantic trades. He expects 'freight balancing' as shipping capacity might not pick up at the same rate as the steep increase in dry bulk volume. De-risking for iron ore producers The expected influx of high-grade iron ore from Simandou might worsen an oversupply situation as China's demand growth softens, which would put more pressure on iron ore producers. 'A lot of producers who are high on the cost curves will come under pressure,' said Claire Chong, senior analyst of Thurlestone Shipping, noting that their operational resilience will come into play. Francois Lavoie, senior vice-president of sales of technical market and product development at Champion Iron, said that as Simandou is 'mixing things up', small producers such as Champion Iron are trying to diversify offerings as part of their de-risk strategy. This includes converting production into iron ore of even higher grades and lower impurities, he noted. India's rising appetite Baltic Exchange's Cheong noted that the industry is also monitoring how iron ore imports to India would evolve, as the second-largest steel producer in the world ramps up its production. Paul Bartholomew, lead analyst of S&P Global Commodity Insights, noted that India is expected to emerge as a major iron ore importer, with the import forecast in 2026 to more than double from 2024's imports. However, Thurlestone Shipping's Chong noted that despite a rising projection, India's iron ore imports are still 'too small to compare with China's'. While India's iron ore import is expected to hit more than 130 million tonnes, China's iron ore imports are projected to stay above 1.1 billion tonnes to 2035, S&P Global indicated.
