One of the world's foremost advocates for digital health connectivity standards has established a presence in Southeast Asia.
The Continua Health Alliance, a Beaverton, Ore.-based not-for-profit representing more than 200 members in the personal connected health movement, this week announced a partnership with Singapore-based Spice Global and the launch of a Southeast Asia Work Group. As part of the partnership, Francis Puno, Spice Global's head of business development for mHealth, will chair the new workgroup.
"Continua is very pleased to establish a formal presence in Southeast Asia, an important market that is already very interested in developing a standards-based framework to serve as a platform upon which to build a health IT infrastructure for collecting and managing personal health data," said Clint McClellan, Continua's board president and chairman, in a press release. "Francis Puno brings a deep understanding of the healthcare structure in the region, as well as significant experience in the use of health technologies to advance chronic disease management and wellness. He is making important progress, building relationships and advancing interoperability standards in the region."
“We are already working with the Singapore Ministry of Health, and have been active in a number of emerging markets, including India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan. With support from local companies including Spice, Continua is well positioned to advance interoperable personal connected health in Southeast Asia," McClellan said.
“We are delighted to join Continua Health Alliance," added Divya Modi-Tongya, Spice Global's promoter and executive director," in the press release. "We believe this region is rightly poised for adopting the standards-based framework of Continua and look forward to contributing to the alliance with our deep understanding of the mobility and healthcare space.”
Spice Global serves more than 25 million customers in the telecommunications, healthcare, finance and technology sectors and helped launch a world-class medical facility in New Delhi, India.
Puno has more than 25 years of experience in pharmaceuticals, consumer products and healthcare technology, Spice Global officials said. In his position as head of business development for mHealth, he oversees the development of end-to-end monitoring solutions for chronic disease and wellness, using cloud-based solutions, wireless connectivity and medical devices.
Continua advocates for international standards for end-to-end, plug-and-play connectivity for personal connected health with the development of design guidelines and test tools. Officials say these standards will help "expedite the deployment of personal connected health devices and systems that will dramatically improve health management, clinical outcomes and quality of life. Personal connected health will empower information-driven health self-management and facilitate the incorporation of health and wellness into the day-to-day lives of consumers."
In May, Continua extended its reach into Central and South America with the establishment of a Brazil Work Group. And last year the organization cemented its European credentials with the announcement that Denmark, long considered one of Europe's leaders in mHealth, would be using Continua guidelines to develop an "action plan for telemedicine."
