Apple Partners with Singapore in Historic Health Initiative

Need to Know

• LumiHealth is a personalized program for the Apple Watch designed by Singapore’s Health Promotion Board.
• The app will encourage Singaporeans to adopt healthy habits through personalized reminders and goal-setting, and will also remind users to go for health screenings and immunizations.
• The program is the first-of-its-kind to bring a tech company and country together to improve the health of citizens.
• The LumiHealth program lasts two years and will be available starting in October 2020.

Analysis

The Government of Singapore has teamed up with Apple on a new app, LumiHealth, aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Singaporeans and residents.

LumiHealth is the result of a two-year process whereby Singapore solicited proposals from international healthcare and technology experts on how to improve the health of its population and is part of Singapore’s ongoing Smart Nation initiative. The app will offer a personalized health program to users who download it, including activity coaching and incentives to work out that include cash rewards. The partnership marks the first time Apple has teamed up with a country on a product.

“Even as all of us around the world are dealing with the challenges of COVID-19, we must keep investing in our future. And there is no better investment than in our own personal health,” Heng Swee Keat, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister, said in a statement. “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.”

When using LumiHealth, users travel through virtual worlds with an intergalactic explorer who guides them through tasks that are tailored to their age, gender, and weight, including weekly physical activity goals. The app also reminds users to have health screenings and immunizations—including a COVID-19 vaccine, once it is developed—and offers wellness challenges, designed by doctors and health experts, with the goal of improving sleep habits and guiding users towards better food choices.

“Singapore has one of the world’s leading healthcare systems, and we are thrilled to be partnering with them to incorporate Apple Watch and LumiHealth into their holistic approach to well-being,” Jeff Williams, Apple’s COO, said of the new app. “Apple Watch has already helped millions of our customers manage their activity levels to improve their health, and we look forward to applying our expertise here in the same privacy-friendly way that distinguishes all Apple products and services.” 

Apple earlier this week announced its entry into the home fitness arena with Apple Fitness+, a personalized home-workout platform that, like LumiHealth, was built with the Apple Watch in mind. Fitness+ uses a recommendation engine to suggest workout videos to users, and tracks their biometrics using the Apple Watch.

LumiHealth, which is a two-year program, will be available in October.