NUH Innovation Hub advances practical solutions in clinics
Published on 11 May 2026
NUH Innovation Hub turns healthcare challenges into tested digital solutions that support care delivery and more efficient clinical workflows.
At a glance
NUH Innovation Hub tests practical solutions in real care settings before wider use.
MedBot and ED Summarizer show how AI can streamline work processes and enable healthcare professionals to devote more time to patient interactions.
New partnerships are expanding the pipeline for future healthcare innovation.
At a time when healthcare teams face growing care complexity, manpower pressures and the demands of an ageing population, the NUH Innovation Hub brings clinical insight, technical development and operational testing into one environment where ideas can be assessed in real care settings.
“The NUH Innovation Hub is a collaborative space designed to accelerate healthcare transformation through partnerships and AI-driven solutions,” said Ms Sandy Ho, Assistant Chief Operating Officer (Plans and Strategy), National University Hospital (NUH). “Embracing a spirit of innovation enables us to stay agile amid challenges, adopt strategic thinking and drive positive outcomes.”
At the launch of the Innovation Hub, which was officiated by Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash (fourth from left), Minister of State at the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Manpower. (Photo credit: NUH)
Where frontline challenges meet practical innovation
The Hub operates as a controlled environment where ideas move through a structured pathway before reaching practice. Work begins with identifying frontline clinical or operational challenges, then progresses through stages of modelling, prototyping, evaluation and launch, allowing teams to assess feasibility, safety and value before wider use.
Clear governance gives that pathway credibility. Clinical oversight, data protection impact assessments and AI review processes support each stage, ensuring that promising solutions are developed with accountability as well as speed.
MedBot and the pressure points inside pharmacy care
A strong example of that model in practice is MedBot, which addresses a clear operational strain in pharmacy care. Pharmacists typically spend between three and 20 minutes per patient on routine counselling across about 2,500 daily prescriptions, adding to workload pressure and narrowing the time available for more complex cases.
The MedBot explains important details – from dosage to side effects – pertaining to patients’ medication, before they collect it.
Developed as a structured digital counselling tool, MedBot is integrated with NUH’s electronic medical records and draws from a validated database to provide patients with consistent and safe information.
MedBot development approach
MedBot is being rolled out in stages so the team can further enhance its features, before extending its use. The team started with 10 medications for safety validation, and expanded to 66 after strict safety milestones were met. The MedBot is currently deployed across two outpatient pharmacies in NUH.
Responses are supported by a human-in-the-loop validation process, while other safeguards include a pre-approved knowledge base, allergy acknowledgement checks, pharmacist escalation pathways and secure real-time data flow between on-premise data systems and cloud infrastructure.
Early use offers a clear view of MedBot’s value in practice. The system has supported over 2,000 patients so far, with 98.7 per cent saying it is easy to use, 98.9 per cent finding the information clear and understandable, and 96 per cent feeling comfortable proceeding with their medication.
Patient feedback continues to be key – more prominent medication dosage instructions, better readability and a more intuitive interface are part of the improvements already being made, while future plans may include a mobile version and interactive features.
ED Summarizer: Reducing documentation burden in emergency care
Another impactful AI-driven solution that has transformed healthcare delivery at NUH is the ED Summarizer, conceptualised to alleviate the mounting pressures for clinicians within the Emergency Department, who often spend significant time on documentation across multiple systems.
Integrated with NUH’s electronic medical records, the tool cuts documentation time by at least 50 per cent, freeing up more time for direct patient care and showing how the Hub’s approach can improve workflow across different departments.
Expanding the innovation pipeline through partnerships
Work inside the Hub extends beyond NUH’s own walls. Through collaboration with the Infocomm Media Development Authority on the Open Innovation Platform, NUH invites external innovators to respond to real clinical challenges already identified on the ground.
The partnership creates a structured route for startups and industry partners to develop solutions with operational relevance from the start. Instead of exploring abstract technology possibilities, the process starts with healthcare problems that already matter to clinicians, staff and patients.
The next wave of work focuses on three identified challenge areas.
Projects in the pipeline
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While the challenges are diverse and varied, the logic remains consistent. Practical pressure points are identified first, then addressed through exploring possible solutions that combine operational need with innovation capability.
Building a more grounded model for healthcare transformation
Across its projects, the NUH Innovation Hub brings structure to how healthcare challenges are addressed. Problems are identified from frontline reality, tested through defined pathways and refined with input from the people delivering and receiving care.
A clear value proposition emerges from that model. Clinical insight, governance and real-world testing come together in a way that helps ideas move beyond demonstration and towards meaningful use.
For NUH, the Hub serves as more than a showcase for technology. A stronger role lies in building a practical route for solutions that support patient care, ease operational pressure and create a more durable pipeline for healthcare innovation over time.
View press release here.
In consultation with Professor Aymeric Lim, Chief Executive Officer, NUH; Ms Sandy Ho, Assistant Chief Operating Officer (Plans and Strategy), NUH, and Mr Jack Lim, Data Scientist, Kent Ridge Office of Innovation, NUH and Tech Lead for MedBot.
