Transforming health tech in Asia

I COVERED the Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG), Asia's flagship technology event from June 1 to 3. The event convened global leaders and decision-makers across the technological ecosystem to debate and address opportunities and challenges as the world taps into the potential of digital to power the next bound of global economic growth while building an inclusive digital future. Two popular segments, the ATxEnterprise and ATxImpact, covered three halls of over 500 exhibitors from 32 countries/regions and featured 200 conference sessions with over 350 speakers.

During the first day, Dr. Janil Puthucheary, senior minister of state, Ministry of Communications and Information and Ministry of Health, Singapore, laid down a bold challenge to the audience in his inspirational opening, which dared participants to think big about the transformative power of technology. The topic "Transforming Health Tech in Asia'' tackled a big-picture conversation about the transformative power of health technology and access to health care in Asia. Pierre Gaudreault, president of Asia (Emerging Markets) for Pfizer Biopharmaceuticals Group brought the discussion beyond vaccine development onto research and development of antiviral pills that involved virtual screening of a molecule using a supercomputer. When the molecule is zoomed in, it is easier to identify what could be suitable for the Covid-19 virus. It is easier to test molecular compounds in a virtual rather than a physical lab environment. They could then test the identified molecule in the wet lab.