Rethinking last-mile delivery for healthcare access, response to the aging boom

Asia’s aging population is putting pressure on healthcare systems. In Singapore, nearly 30% of citizens will be seniors by 2030, creating new challenges. By 2050, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimates that one in four people in Asia will be over 60, bringing major social and economic changes.

The rise in chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and dementia is adding to the strain. Healthcare costs are also climbing. A report from the Asia Pacific Risk Center (APRC) estimates that elderly healthcare costs in Asia could reach $20 trillion over the next 15 years.

Many seniors struggle with mobility, making hospital visits difficult or impossible. A review on healthcare access in Southeast Asia found that transportation issues and rural living conditions make it harder for older adults to get medical care. The growing number of seniors is forcing healthcare systems to explore new ways to deliver services.

Singapore’s Health Minister Gan Kim Yong has pointed out that hospital bed shortages are becoming a serious issue. “Older patients require longer hospital stays and more frequent hospitalizations,” he said, adding that this is putting a strain on public healthcare facilities.

Geography is another challenge. Half of the Asia-Pacific region’s population lives in rural areas, where hospitals are scarce. The ADB reports that these areas also face infrastructure problems, including poor roads, unreliable electricity and weak internet connections. These issues make it difficult to build clinics and use telemedicine.

Cost is also a barrier. Many people in rural areas cannot afford to travel to cities for medical care. A study across six Asia-Pacific countries found that distance, appointment availability, wait times and cost all prevent people from getting the care they need.

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed Asia to adopt more digital healthcare solutions. Telemedicine grew as patients and doctors looked for safer alternatives to in-person visits. Singapore’s telemedicine platform MyDoc saw a 160% spike in user activity in early 2020. In Indonesia, the Ministry of Health partnered with Halodoc and Gojek to bring fast medical services to remote areas.

The pandemic also changed attitudes toward telemedicine. Surveys show that 78% of people in Asia are now open to digital healthcare, compared to 66% globally. More doctors are using telehealth, with adoption rates doubling in the Asia-Pacific since 2019. Patients and providers now see telemedicine as a practical option for routine checkups and managing chronic conditions.

Governments in the region are supporting digital healthcare. Australia has expanded Medicare coverage for telemedicine. Japan offers free government-backed remote health services. Southeast Asian countries are also investing in telehealth platforms like MyDoc in Singapore and KonsultaMD in the Philippines.

Telemedicine is making healthcare more accessible for older adults. Virtual consultations remove the need to visit hospitals, making care safer and easier. The COVID-19 pandemic helped normalize video calls with doctors.

Dr. Ravinder Singh Sachdev, deputy chief medical informatics officer at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, said, “Studies worldwide have shown that patient outcomes in telemedicine consultations are comparable to those in standard care situations.”

Remote care also helps hospitals by reducing overcrowding. Dr. Sachdev noted that telemedicine allows medical staff to use their time and resources more effectively.

Beyond virtual doctor visits, remote patient monitoring (RPM) is helping people with chronic conditions. Devices like blood pressure cuffs and glucose monitors let patients track their health at home. The data is sent to doctors, who can step in if problems arise.

RPM is growing in Southeast Asia. Companies like Doctor Anywhere in Singapore, Bot MD Care in the Philippines and Halodoc in Indonesia are making it easier for patients to share health data with doctors through mobile apps.

James Woo, CIO of Singapore HealthPartners, says the Ministry of Health is pushing for self-monitoring to reduce hospital admissions. “How we do this is by getting these patients to take their own blood pressure, sugar readings and heart rate through remote patient monitoring,” he said in an interview with ZDNet Asia.

Better Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems are also improving healthcare. These systems give doctors quick access to patient history, helping them make better decisions. They also allow hospitals and clinics to share information more easily.

IQVIA, a global healthcare technology company, has expanded its Arcus Air platform in Southeast Asia. This cloud-based system lets hospitals store and share patient data more efficiently. Adoption has tripled in Cambodia, Thailand and other countries over the last five years.

Drones are changing how medical supplies reach people, especially in remote areas. In Thailand, Skyports Drone Services recently transported medical samples over 12 kilometers in just seven minutes. A car or ferry would have taken 55 minutes.

Dr. Sophon Mekthana, chairman of Thailand's Medical UAV Committee, highlighted the potential of this technology. “When sick, even those in the most remote communities can access medicines and supplies for timely treatment. Or if disasters occur, drones can support medical and humanitarian missions,” he said. He also noted that drones could be used to transport vaccines and blood, making healthcare more efficient.

In the Philippines, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has launched a drone delivery program for medicine. DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy said, “Filipinos living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) face life-threatening delays in accessing medications and medical services that can be addressed by utilizing such technology.” He also noted that the pilot project would help refine and expand digital healthcare across the country.

Singapore has adopted new healthcare delivery innovations. ALPS Healthcare is in the forefront with a national supply chain blueprint developed with the Ministry of Health and public healthcare clusters. This framework focuses on efficiency, technology and collaboration.

ALPS (Agency of Logistics and Procurement Services) created this plan to support Singapore’s aging population and ensure affordable and efficient access to medical treatments. It is built on three key pillars:

• – People: Employees using technology to improve supply chain efficiency.

• – Processes: Continuous improvements to enhance resilience and sustainability.

• – Partnerships: Collaboration with government agencies, regulators and service providers.

With these strategies, ALPS is building a stronger and more sustainable healthcare system.

Private companies have also stepped in. Pickupp has introduced route optimization, real-time tracking and centralized dashboards to improve delivery performance. Zuellig Pharma, which serves over 350,000 medical facilities across 13 Asian markets including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, uses cold-chain management, anti-counterfeit serialization and bio-logistics for clinical trials to ensure safe and reliable pharmaceutical distribution.

Advancements in technology now allow patients to test at home. Hong Kong-based Prenetics Global developed Circle Snapshot, a CE-certified, painless micro-needle blood test. The test covers over 50 health areas, including heart health, vitamin deficiencies, diabetes risk and allergies.

Prenetics CEO Danny Yeung highlighted the impact:

Another innovation, Taiwan’s MobioSense HERO, is a portable blood test device that provides results in 15 minutes. It detects heart attacks, kidney injuries and viral diseases with a single finger prick. Results can be shared wirelessly with connected devices and doctors, improving diagnosis speed and affordability.

Digital platforms are streamlining healthcare access. Singapore’s Healthway Medical Corporation has added 47 GP clinics to its teleconsultation app, offering video consultations until 10:30 PM and home medication delivery. The platform will soon expand to include specialists in mental health, gastroenterology and cardiology.

In the Philippines, ePhilHealth, developed with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), allows users to check PhilHealth contributions, claims and register online. During the pandemic, over 100,000 patients per month accessed teleconsultations through the platform.

Asia’s healthcare system is integrating more technology, with AI, blockchain and wearable devices taking a larger role in patient care. AI diagnostics are being developed to assist in early disease detection, while blockchain is being explored to improve security and sharing of electronic medical records. Wearable devices are enabling real-time health tracking, supporting early interventions.

In Thailand and the Philippines, drone delivery programs are being introduced to improve medical supply distribution in remote areas. 5G technology is also expanding telemedicine by supporting high-quality video consultations and faster data sharing.With one in four Asians expected to be over 60 by 2050, healthcare innovations are focusing on solutions like robotic caregivers and smart home health monitoring systems. Governments and healthcare providers continue to adopt technology-driven solutions while working to improve accessibility in rural and underserved areas.