Healthcare providers are already embracing the IoT.

In a trial with the Ministry of Health that started last year, local telco StarHub placed its SIM cards in medical devices such as blood glucose meters, weighing scales and blood pressure monitors.

Meant for patients with chronic diseases, the data is stored in the devices, which doctors can access remotely.

“In the past, doctors would say, take this medicine, I’ll see you in a month. When the patient returns, the doctor discovers it’s not good, or the medicine or dosage needs to be changed. Two months wasted. But with this, the doctor can immediately see if the results are good or bad, and advise the patient on the spot,” said marketing director Jack Ng of MyHealth Sentinel, which makes the devices.