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 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

Globally, the insurance industry is rapidly changing with the increasing use of technology throughout the value chain. And because individuals in Asia Pacific tend to buy and use health insurance from life insurers, the need for data, customer engagement, and digital transformation is particularly essential. In this episode, I speak with Paul Hughes, the Head of Asia Pacific for UnderwriteMe. Paul and I first worked together at MetLife Asia many years ago, and he has worked across Asia Pacific for many other private insurers. In his current role, he is at the epicenter of the change spurred by technology and data, including digital health. In this episode, we discuss: • The structure of the typical insurance, from sales to operations • How technology and data are changing the way insurers need to operate • The role of digital tools including health and insurtech • The future of underwriting Paul Hughes Paul leads the Asia Pacific team at UnderwriteMe, a leading provider of underwriting automation solutions that helps insurers transform their new business process. He is responsible for creating and leading the growth strategy for the business in Asia Pacific and ensuring client success. With over 25 years of experience in the life and health insurance industry in Asia Pacific, he had held senior roles in Underwriting, Claims, Operations, Product and Marketing with leading insurers and reinsurers such as Swiss Re, Aviva, AIA, and MetLife. Guest's Links and Resources Connect with Paul Hughes: LinkedIn UnderwriteMe: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | 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: Bayer G4A Takeda Roche

The role of academia is an essential one for digital health. In addition to providing the platform to conduct clinical research and showcase where technology can create impact, the right environment also becomes the training ground for future leaders and change makers. In this episode, I speak with Dean Ho, who is one of the unique individuals who effectively bridges the different worlds of academia and business building. Dean is the Provost’s Chair Professor, Director of The N.1 Institute for Health (N.1), Director of the Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM), and Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the National University of Singapore. He's also an experienced business builder and entrepreneur. In our conversation we cover: • The evolving role of academia in becoming a hands-on partner for Health Innovation • The impact of Digital Health including AI on regulatory • How National University of Singapore is taking a role in designing the next generation of clinical innovation • The need for Digital Therapeutics in APAC Professor Dean Ho Using his CURATE.AI platform, Prof.Dean Ho has led multiple pioneering clinical studies that have validated the promise of N-of-1 medicine, where only a patient’s own data is used to personalise their treatment for the entire duration of care. Multiple CURATE.AI-based clinical studies are ongoing or cleared for start in the areas of solid cancer and blood cancer therapy, digital therapeutics/personalised learning, and post-organ transplant immunosuppression, among others.  Prof. Ho is an elected member of the US National Academy of Inventors (NAI). He is also a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), the Royal Society of Chemistry, and Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening, as well as a Fulbright Scholar. Prof Ho is also currently a Subgroup Lead of the World Health Organization-ITU AI for Health Working Group for Regulatory Considerations. He has also served as the President of the Board of Directors of the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS), a 26,000+ member global drug development organization comprised of senior executives from the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors, as well as academic thought leaders.  Prof. Ho is a recipient of the Tech Heroes from Crisis: Pathfinder Award from the Singapore Computer Society, NSF CAREER Award, Wallace H. Coulter Foundation Translational Research Award, and V Foundation for Cancer Research Scholar Award, among others. Prof. Ho was also named to the Asia Tatler Gen.T List, which honours young leaders who are shaping the future of the region. Prof. Ho has appeared on the National Geographic Channel Program “Known Universe” to discuss his discoveries in drug delivery and imaging. His discoveries have been featured on CNN, The Economist, Forbes, Washington Post, NPR and other international news outlets. He has advised major publicly listed companies as well as venture capital and private equity funds in the areas of digital medicine and pharmaceutical development, among other sectors. Guest's Links and Resources Connect with Dean Ho: LinkedIn | Twitter The N.1 Institute for Health (N.1): Website | Twitter | LinkedIn WisDM: Twitter 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: Bayer G4A Takeda Roche

For some Digital Health companies, especially those in very developed healthcare systems, success can be contingent on identifying a single core problem and then keeping a tight focus on this challenge when iteratively building your great solution. But not every entrepreneur or corporate innovator has the luxury to take this path, especially when there are overlapping areas of need for your customers. In this episode, we return to Indonesia to examine both the challenge and the successful approach taken by Tiffany Robyn Soetikno, the Founder and COO of PT Global Urban Esensial. Robyn is a skilled entrepreneur who grew up in the Indonesian Healthcare industry. The results (so far) from her efforts have led to a startup delivering impact for 2.5 million individuals, 70,000 doctors, and 1,700 pharmacists. In our discussion, we cover: • A summary of the Indonesia healthcare landscape • Building a complex product roadmap and making it work • Her process for deriving consumer insights • Building scale across each of the different customers while managing growth Robyn Soetikno Robyn founded PT Global Urban Esensial (PT GUE, LLC), a leading digital health startup in Indonesia with a vision to reduce the relationship gaps between doctors and patients. Driven to create a health ecosystem that connects different stakeholders, GUE, LLC has developed three pillars: patient management, doctor management and medication supply. Robyn is passionate about enabling stakeholders within the healthcare industry, using technology to address gaps in the healthcare sector. As a startup founder, she has experience in making the jump from zero to one, scaling up, and transforming the team accordingly. She has also assisted several incumbents to grab opportunities in digital. In 2019, Robyn was named 30 Under 30 - Asia - 2019 under Healthcare and Science category. She was the only Indonesian entrepreneur honored by Forbes. Robyn earned her Masters of Science degree in International Health Management from Imperial College, London and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Public Health and Theatre from Sarah Lawrence College, New York. Guest's Links and Resources Connect with Robyn Soetikno: LinkedIn PT Global Urban Esensial: LinkedIn Guesehat: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube 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: Bayer G4A Takeda Roche

Across Asia Pacific, one persistent challenge is the digital readiness of a health system. Some are more ready for Health Tech than others. The ones that are most prepared have significant adoption of technology, data standards, and processes that embed tech-based solutions into healthcare. In this episode, I’m joined by Shigeto Miyamoto, Head of Digital Marketing for BMS in Japan, and a life-long evangelist for driving technology innovation. In our conversation, we take a deep dive into the current digital readiness in Japan. And while the discussion is specific to one country, the insights from our discussion can be applicable to other health systems. Topics we discuss include: • Cultural reasons why paper-based processes are still prevalent • Gap between the desire to innovate and barriers including regulatory • The impact of COVID on the use of smartphones, telemedicine, and EMRs • Cultural views on privacy and data • The hopeful future for Digital Health in Japan including AI and IoT / Smart Devices Shigeto Miyamoto Based in Tokyo, Shigeto Miyamoto is an experienced digital marketer and thought leader for how technology is driving disruptive innovation in Japan.  Shigeto is currently the Head of Digital Marketing at BMS Japan, where he is the lead for engagement strategy, contents capabilities, and marketing technology.  He has previously worked in insurance at MetLife Japan and held other technology-centric roles at both global enterprises and startups. His career choices are driven by a mission to solve the medical and digital disparities for patients. Shigeto is best known for inspiring marketers to tackle challenging problems through agile thinking and iterative product creation. Guest's Links and Resources Connect with Shigeto Miyamoto: LinkedIn Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS): Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram 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: Bayer G4A Takeda Roche