Singapore has launched a national initiative to adapt existing foundation AI models for its healthcare system, targeting a growing chronic disease burden and an overstretched workforce.
The SIMFONI programme, operated under the Consortium for Clinical Research and Innovation Singapore, will build, test and deploy general-purpose AI tools adaptable across clinical settings. Working with academic partners and regulators, the programme aims to establish standardised datasets for developing healthcare foundation models specific to Singapore’s population, along with frameworks for evaluating their safe use.
SIMFONI will initially focus on two areas: clinical decision support for cardiometabolic conditions in primary care, and multimodal AI for eye diseases. Cardiometabolic conditions including diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia represent a significant share of Singapore’s chronic disease burden. The proposed AI decision support system will assist clinicians with timely, personalised care using validated risk models and national guidelines.
For eye health, SIMFONI will develop a multimodal model targeting cataract, retinal diseases and glaucoma, with plans to expand to other specialties. Because the eye can reveal systemic conditions, the model is expected to support more precise diagnoses, risk stratification and specialist referral triage.
The programme is eventually expected to embed AI tools into Singapore’s national electronic medical record system and expand to cover more conditions and care settings. The Singapore Ministry of Health supports SIMFONI through the National Medical Research Council.
