In this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast, Michael Waitze is joined by Sumit Khemani, CEO of SmartFuture, Singapore-based HealthTech Platform whose aim is to improve health literacy and allow individuals the option to own their own health data. SmartFuture is transforming traditional medical inefficiencies through the use of IoT and AI while streamlining the most effective solutions for its users – the healthcare providers, health insurers, employers and most importantly, individuals. They talked about how Sumit became interested in providing healthcare technology to people, the value that Smart Future offers, COVID-19’s impact on the company, and more.
A Personal Connection to Health Tech
“People around me have been developing chronic health issues, so I’ve become very concerned about the late detection of chronic diseases like diabetes and respiratory problems,” he said.
It was at that point that Sumit formed his vision to create community devices that allow people to easily check their health status on a daily basis. The initial goal of Smart Future was to provide kiosks throughout Singapore that lets people gain access to their health conditions without having to physically visit a hospital.
Later on, however, Smart Future shifted its focus to building an online platform that connects different stakeholders in the healthcare space with patients around Singapore.
Getting Healthcare Services to Your Doorstep
Smart Future aims to deliver telehealth services to its users by leveraging their own growing database accompanied by powerful AIs.
Currently, Smart Future works with hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, as well as the government to provide telehealth services throughout the Lion City. They are also planning to further expand to other countries in the region such as Thailand and Malaysia.
COVID-19’s Impact on Telehealth Services
Smart Future has been running community events to offer quick healthcare checkups to the public in cooperation with the Singaporean government. However, since the novel coronavirus outbreak started, that activity has seized completely.
On the other hand, the outbreak has also presented more opportunities to Smart Future.
“There’s suddenly been a lot of discussion about telemedicine in the region. From the current situation, more healthcare providers are wanting to launch telemedicine services fast,” Sumit said. That’s where Smart Future comes into the picture.
The formation of partnerships with healthcare providers has accelerated in the past few months for Smart Future. The company also started offering contactless temperature measurements.
Sumit believes investment in healthcare startups will heighten in the upcoming years and businesses in the healthcare space will start to gain more traction. “That’s when it’s time to be a billionaire, not a millionaire,” he told Michael.
To gain deeper insights into Singapore’s fast-growing telehealthcare market, check out this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast with Michael Waitze and Sumit Khemani.
Asia Tech Podcast - Episode 70 - Sumit Khemani - CEO SmartFuture - It’s Time to Be a Billionaire and Not a Millionaire
