Singapore partners Apple on LumiHealth

The Singapore government has teamed up with Apple on a national programme to encourage healthy living using the Apple Watch.

Dubbed LumiHealth, the programme was designed by Singapore’s Health Promotion Board (HPB) in conjunction with Apple, with input from a team of physicians and public health experts.

With the LumiHealth app, available for pre-order on the Apple App Store, users will get personalised reminders, activity coaching and incentives as they travel through worlds with an intergalactic explorer who will guide them through personalised goals based on their age, gender and weight.

These include weekly activity goals that can be met through not just walking, but also swimming, yoga and other activities. LumiHealth also reminds users to go for health screenings and immunisations, and participate in wellness challenges that aim to improve sleep habits and mindfulness, as well as encourage better food choices.

By completing these goals and challenges, users help the intergalactic explorer get back home, all while being able to earn rewards worth up to S$380 over the two-year duration of the programme.

The government’s partnership with Apple has received support from Singapore deputy prime minister Heng Swee Keat, who noted that there was no better investment than in one’s personal health amid the challenges of Covid-19.

“This partnership between Singapore and Apple will enable Singaporeans to lead healthier lives, but equally important, it will contribute valuable insights to improving the health of people all over the world,” Heng added.

Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, noted that Singapore has one of the world’s leading healthcare systems, and that the company was looking to applying its expertise in the country while ensuring user privacy and data security.

To that end, LumiHealth users must opt in and provide consent to share information with the app when they join, although they may opt out at any time.

The collection of any personal identifiable information will also be limited to information that will enable the app to provide an experience that is personalised and relevant to the user’s needs.

In addition, all user data will be encrypted to protect privacy. Data will be stored in a highly secure system that is fully compliant with Singapore’s data protection laws. Apple said no data from LumiHealth would ever be sold or shared for marketing purposes.

The HPB inked a similar partnership with Fitbit in 2019 under the Live Healthy SG programme, which leverages the full Fitbit ecosystem of wearable devices, software and services, including guidance and health coaching that will be offered through Fitbit’s premium service.

Zee Yoong Kang, CEO of HPB, said Live Healthy SG participants would benefit from Fitbit’s plans to incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning to encourage physical activity, healthy eating and better sleep quality. “The insights gathered can also help to enrich HPB’s health promotion programmes,” he added.