Philippines to integrate open-source electronic medical record platform for enhanced health programs

According to an announcement
by the Ateneo de Manila University (ATENEO),
the Philippine Department of Health Region
VII is integrating the SHINE OS+ electronic medical record system of
Smart Communications and Ateneo Java Wireless Competency Center (AJWCC) with
its existing reporting tool to enhance the region's health programs.

Integration of SHINE OS+ with its existing reporting
tool will help enhance the Department of Health Region VII’s health programs. Central
Visayas, or Region VII of the Philippines, is made up of four provinces, which
are Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. Some
of the health programs that the Department of Health Regional Office VII is focusing
on include the control and elimination of human rabies and leprosy by 2020.

Launched in
2011, SHINE OS+ stands for Secured Health Information Network Exchange
open-source system. It allows health units to submit aggregated medical data
directly to the region’s Health Console in order to retrieve information on a
timely manner.

SHINE OS+
functions as an electronic medical record (EMR) platform leveraging on
open-sourced technologies, allowing other systems to enable data sharing or
data exchange for interoperability. It provides local government units as well
as other public and private health service providers, free access and use of
its SaaS (online version) and community edition (offline). For those in the
field, a mobile version was also created in order to address the issue of
mobility and convenience.

Depending on the
availability of data connection, the mobile app can synchronise its data on the
cloud or temporarily store data on the device until connection is made
available.

The problem of
manually sifting through records, which is both taxing and time-consuming,
being experienced by rural hospitals in the region, can now be solved. Without
it, patients have to wait until their records are retrieved before a doctor can
see them. Damage caused by disasters and calamities also poses a threat to
paper documents. Not to mention, indecipherable handwriting that may lead to
misdiagnosis.

A simple click
of SHINE OS+ also allows for patients to be referred to health facilities that
are more equipped to handle their case. The hospitals can now receive an advance
notice that a patient referred to them is on the way. Through an SMS sent to
them, the patients will be reminded of their medication and appointments.
Several doctors from different parts of the country can retrieve information on
a patient with a push of a button.

The digitisation
of health records will allow policy makers develop more appropriate health
programs. It would aid them in creating health programs on a per region basis
since they will be able to pinpoint the cases and diseases that are most common
in a specific area.

SHINE OS+ has
garnered awards locally and internationally. The Public
Relations Society of the Philippines recognised it with a Silver Anvil at
the Anvil Awards. It received a Merit Award from the International
Association of Business Communication-Philippines during the Philippine
Quill Awards. It also won in the healthcare category of the Golden World Awards
by the International Public Relations
Association.

The signing of the memorandum of agreement
between SHINE OS+ and the Department of Health Regional Office VII was attended
by Regional Health Director Dr Jaime Bernadas and the representatives of the
developers of the aforementioned application.

Singapore: NParks to Boost Productivity with Digital Tools

The National Parks Board (NParks) announced that a new model of greenery management for parks and streetscapes will be put into place. This model will use a set of digital tools that were made possible by NParks’ research and development efforts and partnerships with the industry since the 1990s.

This new model of managing greenery will have updated seamless work processes that will make it easier for the industry to accept digitalisation. It will be introduced first in the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio district through a new tender for landscape maintenance and management.

The push for digitalisation in the industry will be helped by the start of a $7.5 million grant to increase output in the landscape and animal sectors and help the industry reach its next level of change by adopting technology and going digital.

As part of the Landscape Sector Transformation Plan (LSTP), the fund will help landscape companies and gardens pay for the costs of buying and making new digital solutions. The $7.5 million grant will be split between two programmes: the Standard Scheme, which will give out about $3 million, and the Innovation Scheme, which will give out about $4.5 million.

During the Green Thumbs 2023 held at Changi Civil Service Club, the Minister for National Development Desmond Lee talked about how important it was for the landscape business to help Singapore get greener over the past 60 years.

He noted that now is a good time to launch new projects that would help the gardening industry go to the next stage of change and provide them with the knowledge and resources they need to help make Singapore even greener.

Thus, NParks has come up with a new way to handle parks and streetscapes with greenery in the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio district. The model uses digital tools and programmes like the Maven 2 system, which will let digital tools like Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and the Remote Tree Control System (RTMS) be used to centralise the control of greenery.

The goal of NParks’ digitalisation plan is to improve output, collect information to help make better decisions, and combine this information with systems to make management more predictable.

Also, NParks is looking into increasing the use of surveillance cameras and video analytics to get more accurate visitor numbers and to study how people use parks. This information is then used to improve park management and make the experience better for visitors.

Additionally, Singapore’s new Landscape and Animal Sector Productivity Grant (LAPG) is a co-funding programme that helps companies pay for new tools and new ways of doing things that will help them be more productive. Landscape Productivity Grant (LPG) and Agriculture Productivity Fund (Non-Food) have been replaced by this grant.

Under the Standard Scheme, the LAPG gives eligible businesses up to $100,000 per year in funding, up to a total of $200,000 per company, to buy digital solutions that are already on the market and can be used quickly.

The LAPG also has a part called the “Innovation Scheme.” Eligible businesses can get funding for up to 50% of the total cost of their projects, up to $600,000 per company. The landscape industry is also helped by training courses at Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) that give students the skills and knowledge they need to work in the industry.

Revolutionising Nerve Repair: 4D-Printed Smart Gel Sheets for Surgical Conduits

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru have developed a new smart gel-based sheet produced through three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. It can self-roll into a tube shape during surgical procedures to form a nerve conduit. Its implementation could help reduce the complexity of surgeries and aid the rapid healing of nerve injuries.

Autografts remain the preferred method for treating peripheral nerve injuries. Autografts refer to the surgical procedure of using a patient’s own tissue for transplantation, rather than using tissue from another individual or a synthetic substitute. There is an ongoing exploration of bioresorbable polymer-based conduits as potential alternatives for clinical use. However, these treatment options have various drawbacks, such as donor site morbidity associated with autografts and the necessity for sutures that demand highly skilled microsurgeries, and additional complications posed by sutures.

The 3D printing process involves creating a virtual model of the part using design software, and the part is then fabricated using a 3D printer by layer-upon-layer deposition of the material. This technology also falls under the umbrella of “4D printing,” where time is considered the additional dimension, as the printed parts can undergo shape changes on demand following their fabrication.

The team at IISc, led by Kaushik Chatterjee, engineered a bi-layered gel sheet by 3D printing in pre-defined patterns from two gels. The gel formulations were selected to have different swelling properties. When the dried gel sheet was immersed in water, it quickly swelled and curved into a tube shape. The folding behaviour and final shape of the gel could be precisely programmed to generate tubes of specific dimensions, which could be predicted by computational modelling. Additionally, thin nanometer-scale fibres were applied to the gel sheets to enable cells in the body to attach to them.

The researchers at IISc collaborated with researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology at Roorkee and others to test the 4D-printed conduits for repairing and regenerating a 2 mm gap in the sciatic nerve of rats. The shape-morphing sheets were placed underneath the damaged section of the nerve and then stimulated to wrap around the defect site to form a conduit around the nerve without the need for sutures. The nerve endings were able to grow through the implanted conduit, leading to a significant improvement in nerve regeneration within 45 days of using the 4D-printed nerve conduits.

The team published their findings in a paper featured in Advanced Healthcare Materials. The project was supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a Department of Science and Technology statutory body, under the Intensification of Research in High Priority Areas (IRHPA) special call on 3D Bioprinting.

Even though 4D-printed parts have not yet been used in clinical settings, emerging technologies such as these have the potential to usher in a new era of medical devices that surgeons can utilise during procedures to repair nerves and other tissues. They offer several advantages, including reduced surgical complexity, deployment through minimally-invasive techniques, and shorter recovery periods. As a result, these new technologies could revolutionise the way that nerve injuries and other medical conditions are treated in the future.

Driving AI Competence: Thailand’s National Standards for ICT Professionals

Puchphong Nodthaisong, the Secretary-General of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission (NDESC) unveiled that Thailand has created 11 ICT professional skill standards under the NSC, including software development, big data analysis, and artificial intelligence. The standard supports an environment favourable to innovation and technology in Thailand by allowing business owners to evaluate their employees’ skill sets concerning industry norms.

He revealed the norm during a meeting between the Digital Economy Commission of the Office of the National Society (NorChor) and representatives of APEC economic zone countries. The purpose of the gathering was to talk about common standards for ICT professionals in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and to share ideas for how to get the word out about these standards. According to Puchphong, The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has adopted these professional skills standards, and each member country has linked to its own professional skills standards.

Permanent Secretary for Digital Economy and Society (MDES) Professor Wisit Wisitsorn-at presided over the meeting and emphasised that today’s state-of-the-art AI technology may improve productivity across industries and boost their ability to compete globally.

Professor Wisit said that Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation, has developed a strategy to advance artificial intelligence in the country. On July 26, 2022, the Cabinet authorised the plan to boost AI development, enabling the economy and people’s quality of life.

The National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan was created as Thailand prepares for Thailand 4.0. To guarantee that Thailand’s development is grounded in accountability, transparency, and justice for the benefit of all sectors, particularly vulnerable groups, the plan supports AI ethics and collaborates with stakeholders to build ethical guidelines.

The plan will boost the country’s technological competitiveness by fostering talent and establishing an ecosystem. The initiative’s goals include improving the economy, society, and the environment. According to Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the action plan would construct a central platform for AI services and encourage the growth of AI human resources in Thailand by training at least 13,500 people annually.

In a recent meeting, Puchphong Nodthaisong, Secretary-General of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission, discussed the implementation of AI Ethics & Governance with representatives from the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) and the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). The gathering was a promising first step towards advancing the responsible deployment of AI in the digital economies and cultures of Thailand.

Meeting attendees heard from Teerawut Thongphak, Head of the Digital Technology Infrastructure Division, about the clinic’s plans, organisational framework, and operational processes for governing artificial intelligence (AI). The group also discussed how to implement better Thailand’s National Artificial Intelligence Action Plan for Development (2017-2027), which aims to make the country’s culture, ethics, legal structure, and legislation suitable for the usage of AI.

Thailand continues to push digitalisation throughout the area, in addition to its focus on AI research. Community-based tourism is an idea that has been considered at length by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), as is creating a network of “must-travel” towns.

Depa plans to map out a route to essential locations in the central and eastern areas as part of its effort to develop a community tourism calendar. Depa also emphasised the importance of attracting Thai and foreign tourists by telling the experiences of local elders as a means of adding value to products and services through digital technologies. More than 30 million baht in revenue is forecasted from the project. Depa also wants to build a database system to facilitate the development of high-calibre tourism.

Taiwan’s CHIPS Act Boosts Global Investment

The last step has been reached in the process of approving Taiwan’s “CHIPS Act,” which is a set of benefits for the local chipmaking industry. Companies and people have until the end of May to tell Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) what they think about the planned changes to Article 10-2 of the Statute for Industrial Innovation, which is the official name of the law.

The main goal of the policy is to get manufacturers to spend more on high-value equipment and research and development. This would help Taiwanese manufacturers stay at the top of the global industrial chain and give Taiwan a competitive edge in key industries around the world.

After communicating with the Ministry of Finance (MOF), the MOEA came up with some requirements for companies that want to take advantage of the tax breaks. These include at least NT$10 billion will be spent on advanced process manufacturing tools; spending at least NT$6 billion (US$194.68 million) per year on research and development (R&D) and spending at least 6% of annual sales on R&D.

In 2021, Taiwanese businesses with more than 1,000 employees spent NT$496.36 billion on research and development, according to a survey by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). The survey also found that companies with more than 1,000 people spend 70% of their money on R&D.

Sources say that most tech companies in Taiwan should do much better than the MOEA minimum. To stop people from saying that these preferential policies were made just for TSMC, the regulation cited that a company can still get tax breaks if it invests in R&D for innovative applications of mature process technologies and meets the requirements, even if it doesn’t invest in world-leading technologies.

Taiwanese manufacturers put most of their money into improving the efficiency of their production lines, meeting current customer orders, increasing yield, and lowering costs. This helps them reach their business goals.

Hence, the MOEA and MOF couldn’t go against Taiwan’s existing economic structure and ecosystem when they came up with preferential tax policies to reward R&D. After getting all the relevant views, the MOEA and MOF will announce the policy together. In 2024, businesses that are eligible will be able to ask for tax breaks.

The CHIPS Act is an important piece of legislation for Taiwan and the global semiconductor industry as a whole. The act aims to increase Taiwan’s investment in research and development of advanced semiconductor technologies, to maintain its leading position as a key player in the global semiconductor supply chain.

Taiwan is home to TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), which is the world’s largest contract chipmaker, and other major semiconductor companies. The country is responsible for producing a significant portion of the world’s semiconductors and plays a crucial role in the supply chain for industries such as smartphones, automobiles, and consumer electronics.

However, the semiconductor industry is facing challenges such as a shortage of skilled workers and increased competition from other countries such as China and South Korea. The CHIPS Act aims to address these challenges by investing in research and development of advanced semiconductor technologies, as well as providing funding and incentives for companies to set up manufacturing facilities in Taiwan.

The act is also important for the U.S., as it recognises the strategic importance of the semiconductor industry for national security and economic competitiveness. The U.S. relies heavily on Taiwan for the supply of semiconductors, and the CHIPS Act provides a framework for increased collaboration and cooperation between the US and Taiwan in this critical area.

Vietnam: Declining Cyberattacks Signals Improved Information Security

According to the Authority of Information Security, Vietnam recorded and handled as many as 498 cyberattacks targeting information networks in April. The figure indicates a decrease of 5.1% from March and a significant drop of 46.9% compared to the same period last year. For the second consecutive month in 2023, the number of cyberattacks in Vietnam has significantly decreased, the government has said in a press release.

The government has attributed the decrease in cyberattacks to the increased focus of domestic agencies and organisations on information security protection, as well as the positive outcomes resulting from long-term efforts to increase investment in this field.

Despite the reduction in cyberattacks, the Authority expressed concern that cybercrime groups may continue to target organisations and businesses associated with financial services, including banking, securities, and insurance. To mitigate these risks, the Authority advised enterprises to adhere to the regulations set by state management agencies and take necessary measures to prevent cyberattacks while ensuring timely response in case of any incidents.

In March, 525 cyberattacks were recorded in Vietnam, a decrease of 68.9% month on month and 49.3% year on year. In the first quarter of 2023, a total of 3,446 cyberattacks were reported and handled, down 6.3% compared to the same period in 2022.

Last year in Vietnam, computer viruses resulted in economic losses amounting to VND 21.2 trillion (US$ 903 million). To ensure cybersecurity, MIC collaborated with various agencies to conduct three nationwide security exercises. The authority directly prevented over 3,600 fraudulent websites, safeguarding nearly 4 million people or approximately 6% of internet users.

Earlier this month, the Authority of Information Security and several city Information and Communications Departments held a conference on the launch and evaluation of the national cyber security and safety strategy. As OpenGov Asia reported, Vietnam has set a goal to establish a cybersecurity research and development centre, safeguard information systems in 11 critical sectors, and establish cybersecurity forces at ministries, sectors, and state agencies by 2025.

The government has cracked down on 76 websites involved in the distribution of malware. Additionally, connections to 915 IP addresses belonging to virus-infected computer networks (IP Botnet) have been blocked. An expert highlighted the importance of cybersecurity and safety as essential responsibilities during the digital transformation process. These measures play a crucial role in establishing digital trust and fostering prosperity in the era of digital advancements.

The conference also explored the importance of investing in cybersecurity, which will promote sustainable development and generate value. To achieve this, the agency must maintain and improve the effectiveness of the “4-layer” information security assurance model. This includes focusing on monitoring and professionally protecting systems, as well as connecting and sharing information with the national monitoring system. Additionally, the agency must prioritise training and updating technical personnel with knowledge and skills related to information security, and adopt anti-malware solutions.

Participants discussed measures to promote the implementation of the strategy. Local authorities have prioritised investment in developing and protecting digital infrastructure, platforms, data, and network infrastructure.

The government has emphasised the importance of strengthening national sovereignty protection across different aspects of cyberspace. These include safeguarding digital infrastructure, platforms, data, national cyberinfrastructure, and information systems utilised by party and state agencies.

Free Access for All: New Zealand’s Zero Data Programme

The New Zealand government has started a new programme called Zero Data, which aims to make sure critical online public information and services are freely available to all users of participating mobile networks in the country. This action is being taken to ensure that low-income people have access to essential government services by lowering the cost barrier of mobile data.

The Zero Data programme eliminates the cost of using mobile data while accessing certain public sector websites. Instead of the user being responsible for the cost of mobile data used to visit these sites, the participating government entities will be.

“Many New Zealanders, especially those with limited financial resources, rely solely on mobile devices like phones and tablets to connect to the internet and gain access to the world wide web’s wealth of information and services. However, mobile data isn’t free. Therefore, the price of mobile data can be prohibitive. Zero Data removes this barrier by providing free access to selected essential online public information and services for anyone,” according to the official website.

Anyone using a mobile device on a prepay or monthly plan with the operator network participating in the programme can use the Zero Data service. However, the service is unavailable if the user’s device is in global roaming mode, accessing the internet through a non-participating provider, or using fibre optics. To utilise the service, customers must have a mobile phone or tablet linked to a supported mobile network and have their mobile data enabled.

Then, they can look up the agencies participating in the Zero Data initiative on its website. The Ministry of Education, the Department of Internal Affairs, Health New Zealand, Homes & Communities, the Ministry of Justice, the Accident Compensation Corporation, and the Ministry of Social Development are some government sites now participating in the Zero Data programme.

Regarding personal data usage, users’ IP addresses are logged when they access the Zero Data service. But other than that, no personally identifying information is gathered or retained. While the user’s IP address and browser type (among further purely technical details) will be recorded, no other information that could be used to identify the user’s identity will be stored alongside it.

IP addresses are personally identifying information, although in this case, merely recording the address is not sufficient to identify a specific user. The service is not designed to perform device fingerprinting that would allow a particular device or user to be identified. Following the Public Records Act of 2005, the proxy will not store or keep track of any user credentials.

New Zealand’s dedication to closing the digital gap and providing universal access to cutting-edge communication services is reflected in its substantial investments in several schemes designed to boost connectivity across the country. A mobile network operator has just delivered roughly 400 government-funded cell towers, marking another significant milestone for the government in its effort to improve connectivity for rural and isolated families and enterprises.

The government’s Rural Broadband Initiative, which is funding the towers, has been instrumental in expanding broadband and mobile coverage to New Zealand’s rural and isolated areas. As of the end of 2022, almost 1,211 kilometres of State Highway have cell coverage thanks to government connectivity efforts. Additionally, mobile coverage is available at 114 tourist hotspots, broadband has been extended to more than 600 maraes, and improved broadband is now available to roughly 80,000 homes and businesses in rural areas.

ML-Based Tool Enhances Detection of Glioblastomas

A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) has created a computational tool using machine learning (ML) to enhance the detection of cancerous tumours in the brain and spinal cord. Named ‘GBMDriver’ (GlioBlastoma Multiforme Drivers), this tool is now accessible to the public through an online platform.

Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive tumour that grows rapidly in the brain and spinal cord. Despite research efforts to comprehend this tumour, treatment options remain limited, and the prognosis is typically poor, with a survival rate of less than two years from the initial diagnosis.

Evaluating the functional consequences of protein variants associated with Glioblastoma is crucial for advancing therapeutic options for patients. However, conducting functional validations to identify driver mutations, which are the specific mutations responsible for causing the disease, from the multitude of observed variants would be laborious work.

According to a statement by IIT-Madras, the GBMDriver tool was specifically designed to identify driver mutations, which are responsible for the development of Glioblastoma, and passenger mutations, which are neutral mutations. During the development of the web server, multiple factors were considered, including amino acid properties, di- and tri-peptide motifs, conservation scores, and Position Specific Scoring Matrices (PSSM).

In this study, 9,386 driver mutations and 8,728 passenger mutations in glioblastoma were analysed. Driver mutations in glioblastoma were identified with an accuracy of 81.99%, in a blind set of 1,809 mutants, which is better than existing computational methods. This method is completely dependent on protein sequence, the statement explained.

Michael Gromiha from the Department of Biotechnology at IIT-Madras provided insights into the key findings of the team’s research. He stated that they had successfully identified crucial amino acid features for the identification of cancer-causing mutations and achieved the highest level of accuracy in differentiating between driver and neutral mutations. The team’s aim is for the GBMDriver tool to aid in prioritising driver mutations in glioblastoma and support the identification of potential therapeutic targets. Ultimately, this tool can contribute to the development of effective drug design strategies for the treatment of glioblastoma.

The research findings hold several key applications, including:

The methodology and features employed in this research can be adapted and applied to other diseases beyond glioblastoma.
The method developed in this research can serve as a significant criterion for predicting disease prognosis. By accurately identifying driver mutations, it can aid in understanding the severity and progression of the disease, contributing to improved patient management and personalised treatment approaches.
The research provides a valuable resource to identify mutation-specific drug targets to design therapeutic strategies.

Last year, IIT-Madras researchers developed PIVOT, an artificial intelligence (AI)-based tool that can predict cancer-causing genes. As OpenGov Asia reported, PIVOT predicts cancer-causing genes using a model that utilises information on mutations, expression of genes, and copy number variation in genes and perturbations in the biological network that results from an altered gene expression. The tool applies machine learning to classify genes as tumour suppressor genes, oncogenes, or neutral genes. PIVOT successfully predicted both the existing oncogenes and tumour-suppressor genes like TP53, and PIK3CA, among others, and new cancer-related genes such as PRKCA, SOX9, and PSMD4.

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Philippines to integrate open-source electronic medical record platform for enhanced health programs

Singapore: NParks to Boost Productivity with Digital Tools

Revolutionising Nerve Repair: 4D-Printed Smart Gel Sheets for Surgical Conduits

Driving AI Competence: Thailand’s National Standards for ICT Professionals

Taiwan’s CHIPS Act Boosts Global Investment

Vietnam: Declining Cyberattacks Signals Improved Information Security

Free Access for All: New Zealand’s Zero Data Programme

ML-Based Tool Enhances Detection of Glioblastomas

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Vietnam: Declining Cyberattacks Signals Improved Information Security

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Driving AI Competence: Thailand’s National Standards for ICT Professionals

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