Singapore has enlisted Fitbit as a partner on a population health initiative meant to help improve overall health outcomes for the country’s residents.
The Live Healthy SG partnership marks the first integration by Fitbit with a national public health program, which will use the San Francisco company’s fitness trackers as a way to drive healthier living and behavior.
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While the devices themselves will be free for users, additional health coaching services and software offerings will require a monthly fee. The ultimate goal is to enroll one million Singaporeans in the program which will start pre-registration next month in preparation for an October launch date.
Users will receive a Fitbit Inspire HR at no charge if they commit to one year of the Fitbit Premium service.
“At Fitbit, our focus has always been on making health more accessible and achievable by giving people fun, simple and innovative technology – and this focus has driven results for millions around the world,” Fitbit CEO James Park, said in a statement.
“Our partnership with the Singapore Health Promotion Board is a recognition of our work to date, and we are confident that the powerful combination of our devices, software and services will motivate Singaporeans to improve their health, while also tangibly helping a nation to improve health at scale.”
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Singapore is known for its robust and efficient healthcare system, but has seen the rise of so-called “diseases of affluence” as general quality of life has improved for the population. This includes chronic conditions like hypertension, type 2 diabetes and cancer.
Live Healthy SG participants will use Fitbit devices, alongside personalized coaching to hopefully boost physical activity, sleep health, nutrition and emotional wellbeing.
“Participants of this program will 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 programs,” Singapore Health Promotion Board CEO Zee Yoong Kang said in a statement.
The deal is a boon for Fitbit and its stock, which has been hovering near all-time lows in recent weeks as competitors like Apple have continued to capture market share in the wearables space.
The company has a stated strategy of moving its core business away from device sales and into healthcare services, which can provide recurring revenue at more lucrative profit margins.
“Looking ahead, we continue to transform our business from an episodic one centered around the device sale to a lifetime value-driven model centered around behavior change,” Park said in the company’s recent earnings call.
Fitbit in betting hard on its Fitbit Health Solutions enterprise business line as it shifts its business model from device sales to recurring software and services revenue. The business line is projected to hit $100 million in revenue in 2019.
Picture: Fitbit
