Opening Remarks by Adjunct Professor (Dr) Raymond Chua, Chief Executive Officer, Health Sciences Authority, at the Pre-Conference Positron Emission Tomography–Computed Tomography (PET/CT) Workshop, 21 May 2026

1     Good morning everyone and to all overseas guests, a very warm welcome to Singapore.

2     It is my pleasure to join you at this Pre-Conference Positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET/CT) Workshop, organised by Singapore General Hospital and United Imaging Singapore.

3     I want to begin by acknowledging the extraordinary role that each of you play in clinical medicine. Radiologists are often one of the first to detect what others yet cannot see. You reveal disease at its earliest stages, transform shadows into diagnosis, images into insights, guide some of the most critical clinical decisions and play a part in shaping the course of treatment. And with the rise of molecular imaging, and artificial intelligence, your specialty is becoming even more central to the future of medicine.

4     Today’s workshop represents more than PET/CT, it represents the convergence of three transformative forces: precision imaging, artificial intelligence (AI) and supported by responsible regulations as an enabler. And in so doing, we hope to reshape healthcare into one that is more predictive, personalised and precise.

5     Let me share three key areas that make this moment particularly significant for the future of Singapore's healthcare.

The Significance of Technology

6     First, healthcare technology has evolved dramatically, from basic diagnostic tools to sophisticated precision imaging enablers that fundamentally transform how we deliver care. Today's imperative is clear: we must embrace technologies that not only enhance our clinical capabilities but also prioritise patient safety above all else.

7     Singapore stands at the forefront of this transformation through our strategic adoption of next-generation medical technologies.

8     The SingHealth uMI Panorama GS PET CT scanner before us today reflects how innovation can be responsibly integrated into clinical practice. By combining two imaging modalities PET and CT, this system demonstrates how collaboration among institutions, clinicians, industry, and regulators enables new technologies to be applied in patient care. It also underscores Singapore’s commitment to advancing healthcare while keeping patient safety at the centre of every development.

Singapore’s Healthcare AI strategy

9     Second, this workshop takes place within Singapore’s broader healthcare AI strategy at an important juncture. We are seeing advanced imaging technologies being integrated with artificial intelligence, alongside imaging hardware and clinical workflows. This integration is shaping how precision imaging is applied in practice, and Singapore has made a deliberate strategic choice to be actively engaged at the forefront of this development.

10     In Budget 2026, the Government announced AI missions targeting four sectors - advanced manufacturing, connectivity, finance, and healthcare. They form the core of Singapore's economy and public welfare. For us in this room, the healthcare mission is particularly significant. It charts our strategic course towards a more intelligent, responsive healthcare system, recognising that the future of clinical care lies not in isolated technological breakthroughs, but in the integration of advanced tools that work alongside clinicians in real time. At the same time, the missions recognise that successful AI implementation requires more than sophisticated algorithms. It demands interoperability across systems, robust AI and clinical governance frameworks, and seamless integration into clinical workflows. Technology alone does not transform healthcare. Thoughtful, coordinated implementation does while maintaining the highest standards of safety and clinical utility.

11     Specifically in radiology, many are concerned that it may displace radiologists. But I want to say that it doesn’t diminish the importance of radiologists – in fact, it amplifies it. AI can help detect subtle abnormalities, automate repetitive tasks and reduce variability. But it is our professional judgment, experience and clinical acumen that cannot be replaced by AI and that will transform algorithmic AI output into meaningful patient care.

HSA’s Regulatory Approach - Enabler Role

12     Third, let me outline HSA’s role in this ecosystem. We see ourselves not merely as a regulatory gate, but as an enabling partner in Singapore’s healthcare innovation journey. Guided by a practical, risk based philosophy, our regulatory frameworks balance patient safety with innovation and are designed to keep pace with rapidly evolving medical technologies, ensuring they remain future ready.

13     This enabling role extends beyond regulation alone. The Singapore Government coordinates multiple agencies: from research and economic development to regulatory approval. This creates a coherent, end-to-end offering for biomedical companies. For clinicians and healthcare institutions, what this means in practice is that the pathway from innovation to bedside is supported at every stage, not fragmented across disconnected processes. Companies bringing advanced imaging and AI tools to Singapore are not navigating a maze, but a supportive ecosystem designed to get safe, effective technologies to patients faster.

14     HSA has also established itself as a strong international reference authority, becoming the first national regulatory authority worldwide to achieve World Health Organisation (WHO) Maturity Level 4 (ML4) for medical devices. This milestone positions Singapore not only as a trusted global reference point for other regulators, but also as a gateway for market access across regions far beyond our domestic market of six million.

15     In March 2026, HSA and Ministry of Health (MOH) published the updated Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Guidelines version 2.0 (AIHGLE 2.0), developed in close partnership with our healthcare community. These guidelines reflect our collective learning from real-world AI deployment and address the evolving challenges as AI capabilities advance in medical imaging and beyond. Regulatory excellence and clinical innovation are not competing priorities but complementary forces that drive better patient outcomes. When we get governance right, we do not slow innovation. Rather we make it sustainable, trustworthy, and scalable.

16     HSA is actively putting in place initiatives to drive this convergence. Recognising that innovation thrives with appropriate regulatory frameworks, we introduced the Artificial Intelligence – Software as Medical Device (AI-SaMD) regulatory sandbox in February this year, enabling public healthcare entities to deploy low-to-moderately low-risk AI medical devices across multiple institutions while maintaining rigorous safeguards. This regulatory flexibility demonstrates how thoughtful governance can accelerate patient access to beneficial innovations while ensuring that safety remains paramount. We are not choosing between speed and safety. We are designing frameworks that deliver both.

17     Alongside this, we are actively reviewing our regulatory approach to better cater for emerging technologies, ensuring our frameworks evolve in step with the science and remain genuinely future-ready. And we are supporting the economic development role in the biomedical sector, working more actively with industry partners to promote the development and commercialisation of innovative medical technologies. For the clinicians and technologists in this room, this matters: the insights you generate, the workflows you refine, and the clinical evidence you build here in Singapore can form the foundation for innovations that scale well beyond our shores.

Future Vision and Participants’ Role as Architects of Healthcare Transformation

18     Now, let me turn to your role in this transformation. To our distinguished participants: you represent the future of precision imaging in an era where AI augments human expertise rather than replacing it.

19     The AIHGLE 2.0 framework is not a theoretical construct for tomorrow. It is a present-day transformation tool that provides clear guidance on how each of you can actively contribute to our healthcare evolution right now. Whether you are responsible for deploying AI systems in your institution or using them at the point of care, the framework recognises that both roles carry distinct and meaningful responsibilities. It is the rigour that deployers bring to testing and validation, combined with the clinical judgement that users exercise in practice, that together make AI in healthcare worthy of patient trust. That combination of institutional accountability and frontline wisdom is what transforms a promising healthcare technology into a reliable one.

20     Singapore's healthcare system faces a defining challenge in the years ahead. Our population is ageing, lower fertility rate and the demand for precise, efficient, and personalised care will only intensify. Ensuring that our healthcare facilities are AI-ready with the necessary infrastructure, skilled professionals, and the governance frameworks to deploy advanced technologies effectively is not a future ambition. Advanced imaging systems will be instrumental in this: enabling more precise diagnoses, optimising treatment pathways, and enhancing overall care delivery for a population that will increasingly depend on these capabilities.

21     The systematic integration of AI into healthcare requires a coordinated approach that goes beyond individual technological successes. It demands interoperability across systems, so that imaging data flows seamlessly into electronic health records, clinical decision tools, and research platforms. It demands robust governance with transparency and accountability from the devices to information stored within.

22     The increasing connectivity of medical devices in healthcare has made cybersecurity an important consideration, as cyber threats now pose direct risks not just to data, but to patient safety and clinical workflow integrity. There is a need to work with everyone to secure the devices which play a critical role in maintaining diagnostic accuracy and ensuring that healthcare professionals can rely on the tools they depend on for patient care. This requires a collaborative effort between regulators, manufacturers, and healthcare providers to build robust and continuously evolving defences against emerging threats.

23     The experience you gain today will shape how we deploy these technologies. The professional networks you build, and the best practices you develop will ripple throughout our healthcare system. I would encourage each of you to view this workshop not merely as professional development, but as your contribution to Singapore's healthcare transformation.

Closing

24     Let me close with gratitude and with a vision.

25     My sincere thanks to the SGH and United Imaging organising teams for bringing this workshop to life with such care and rigour. And my deep appreciation to each of you for the dedication you bring to advancing our field.

26     The future of healthcare lies in convergence - not convergence as a buzzword, but as a shared commitment. The convergence of regulatory frameworks with clinical innovation. And above all, the convergence of institutions, clinicians, industry, and regulators working toward a shared goal. Singapore's strength has always been our ability to bring the different partners of the ecosystem together with purpose and rigour. That is what will define our healthcare future.

27     When we hold that North Star clearly, technology becomes what it should be: a tool in service of better outcomes for the patients who trust us with their care. Although your work often takes place behind the scenes, your impact is profound.

28     May this workshop spark new ideas, foster meaningful collaborations, and strengthen our shared mission to transform healthcare through innovation. See yourself as pioneers to define the next era of healthcare, rather than just users of technology.

29     I wish you an enriching and impactful workshop experience.

30     Thank you.