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Synapxe
FormerlyIntegrated Health Information System (IHiS)
Industry
  • Healthcare
  • Technology
Founded2008
FounderMinistry of Health, Singapore
HeadquartersSingapore
ParentMOH Holdings Pte Ltd
Websitewww.synapxe.sg

Synapxe Pte Ltd, formerly known as Integrated Health Information System (IHiS), is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MOH Holdings Pte Ltd, the holding company through which the Singapore Ministry of Health owns corporatised institutions in the public healthcare sector.[1]

History

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IHiS was founded in 2008 by the Ministry of Health, Singapore.[2]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, IHiS developed several healthtech projects including, the Command, Control, and Communications (C3) System, which was co-developed with Tan Tock Seng Hospital.[3][4] Some other projects such as the GPConnect system were transferred to IHiS following the merger of Information Systems Division (ISD) of MOH Holdings and IHiS in November 2016.

In January 2021, GPConnect was adopted and deployed as the national EMR system for Singapore's COVID-19 vaccination operations (VacOps).[5][6][7][8] As well the VacOps program which was established to support Singapore's vaccination operations VacOps, with an aim to deploy various HealthTech solutions to multiple vaccination centers, public health preparedness clinics and polyclinics. IHiS also tech-enabled mobile vaccination teams to visit community care facilities such as nursing homes and residential facilities.[9][5][6]

In 2023, it is reported that IHiS will move out of its current premises to Elementum, located at Biopolis, One-north, Singapore.[10]

On 27 July 2023, IHiS was renamed as Synapxe.[11][12]

Products and services

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National Electronic Health Record

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The National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) is a system that collects and organizes patient health care records and is managed by IHiS.[13]

Outpatient Pharmacy Automation System

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The Outpatient Pharmacy Automation System (OPAS) is a system that automate pharmacy processes of sorting, packing and dispensing a variety of drugs including blister packs, boxes and loose tablets into one complete system.[14][15]

HealthHub

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In 2015, IHiS established the HealthHub, a web portal and mobile application for national health information and services. It allows Singaporeans to view evidence-based health and wellness information, access health records, and perform transactions across public healthcare clusters such as appointments, bill payments and refilling of medication.[16][6][17][18][7][19]

Controversies

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2018 data breach

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Main article: 2018 SingHealth data breach

Personal particulars of 1.5 million SingHealth patients and records of medicines dispensed to outpatients, affecting a total of 160,000 such patients, were stolen in a cyberattack occurring between 27 June and 4 July 2018. Information relating to the names, National Registration Identity Card numbers, addresses, dates of birth, and race and gender of patients who visited specialist outpatient clinics and polyclinics between 1 May 2015 and 4 July 2018 was maliciously accessed and copied. Information relating to patient diagnosis, test results and doctors' notes were unaffected.[20] Information on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was specifically targeted.[21]

In response, IHiS had strengthened public health systems against data breaches. 19 measures were put in place, including two-factor authentication for all administrators, proactive threat hunting and intelligence, allowing only computers with latest security updates on hospital networks, and a new database activity monitoring.[22][23]

A Committee of Inquiry was convened for the SingHealth breach and subsequently released a report. After the release of the report, IHiS dismissed two employees and demoted one for being negligent in handling and misunderstanding the attack respectively, with financial penalties imposed on two middle management supervisors, and five members of the senior management including CEO Bruce Liang. Three employees were commended by IHiS for handling the incident diligently even when not part of their job scope. IHiS has since fast-tracked a suite of 18 measures for enhancing cybersecurity.[24][25] The Personal Data Protection Commission fined IHiS $750,000 and SingHealth $250,000 for not doing enough to safeguard personal data under the Personal Data Protection Act, making it the largest fine imposed for data breaches.[26]

Subsequently, on 6 March 2019, cybersecurity company Symantec identified a state-sponsored group, known as Whitefly, behind the cyberattack. Although the country is not identified, that group has been found to be behind several related cyberattacks against Singapore-based entities since 2017.[27][28]

References

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  1. ^ "Privacy Policy". www.synapxe.sg. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Singapore's national healthtech agency, IHiS, empowers patients to take ownership of their health with Health Discovery+ on Azure". Microsoft Customers Stories. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  3. ^ Hermes (29 April 2020). "Tapping AI to battle Covid-19 | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  4. ^ Auto, Hermes (18 March 2021). "IHiS team quickly added Covid-19 pandemic features in new IT system | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  5. ^ a b Auto, Hermes (19 April 2021). "Tech helps power Singapore's Covid-19 vaccination drive | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Poon, Yun Xuan (2 August 2021). "5 tech tools behind Singapore's vaccine rollout". GovInsider. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  7. ^ a b Hermes (6 June 2020). "Mobile kiosks boost efficiency at community care facilities | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Swift tech updates a boon for vaccination exercise". www.businesstimes.com.sg. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Digital engagement and transformation of healthcare in Singapore". Healthcare IT News. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Public-sector healthtech agency IHiS to be anchor tenant at Elementum in one-north: sources". www.businesstimes.com.sg. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  11. ^ Teo, Joyce (27 July 2023). "Hospital care at home, nudges to remind S'pore residents to take care of health to be the norm". The Straits Times. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  12. ^ Teo, Joyce (27 July 2023). "Ong Ye Kung highlights 5 strategic priorities for rebranded national health tech agency Synapxe". The Straits Times. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  13. ^ Lai, Linette (8 November 2017). "All healthcare practices roped into plan to put patients' medical history in electronic database | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  14. ^ Lim, Adrian (30 March 2015). "Health Ministry's automated pharmacy system wins project management award | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  15. ^ "The WITSA Global ICT Excellence Award | World Information Technology & Services Alliances (WITSA)". www.wcit2021.org.bd/. 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  16. ^ Poon, Yun Xuan (28 April 2021). "How Singapore makes vaccination updates easy". GovInsider. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  17. ^ "How IHiS optimised customer experience for HealthHub". FutureCIO. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  18. ^ Auto, Hermes (21 February 2021). "Covid-19 test results, vaccination records now accessible in HealthHub mobile app | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  19. ^ Auto, Hermes (12 October 2021). "Boosting digitalisation will help in building a future-proof healthcare system: Forum | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  20. ^ "Personal info of 1.5m SingHealth patients, including PM Lee, stolen in Singapore's worst cyber attack". 20 July 2018. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  21. ^ Kwang, Kevin (20 July 2018). "Singapore health system hit by 'most serious breach of personal data' in cyberattack; PM Lee's data targeted". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018.
  22. ^ Tham, Irene (1 November 2018). "New measures to strengthen public healthcare systems following SingHealth data breach". The Straits Times. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  23. ^ Yusof, Amir (1 November 2018). "SingHealth cyberattack: IHiS announces measures to protect healthcare sector against online threats". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  24. ^ Mohan, Matthew; Sim, Fann (14 January 2019). "SingHealth cyberattack: IHiS sacks 2 employees, imposes financial penalty on CEO". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  25. ^ Tham, Irene (14 January 2019). "IHiS sacks 2 employees, slaps financial penalty on CEO over lapses in SingHealth cyber attack". The Straits Times. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  26. ^ Mohan, Matthew (15 January 2019). "PDPC fines IHiS, SingHealth combined S$1 million for data breach following cyberattack". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  27. ^ Baharudin, Hariz (6 March 2019). "SingHealth database hackers have targeted other systems here since at least 2017: Symantec". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  28. ^ Kwang, Kevin (6 March 2019). "Cyber espionage group Whitefly behind SingHealth hack: Symantec". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
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