Coronavirus: Singapore chatbot helps doctors monitor migrant workers’ health in real time

SGDormBot, developed in partnership with AI health care start-up Bot MD, has been put to use at six migrant worker dormitories

The bot reminds infected residents in dorms to monitor their temperature, heart rate and oxygen levels, using their native language

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Migrant workers pictured in a dormitory in Singapore last month. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:18am, 11 Jun 2020Updated: 11:18am, 11 Jun 2020

A chatbot powered with artificial intelligence technology has been put to use at six migrant worker dormitories in Singapore, to allow doctors to monitor residents’ health in real time and intervene quickly when necessary.

The platform, named SGDormBot, was developed by the city state’s National University Health System in partnership with AI health care start-up Bot MD.

In a statement on Wednesday, NUHS said that even though isolation facilities have been expanded, significant numbers of migrant workers diagnosed or suspected to have Covid-19 continue to be housed in dormitories, where on-site medical coverage is only available for certain hours of the day.

So it jointly developed the chatbot for use at the six dormitories under its care, namely Sungei Tengah Lodge, Tuas South Dormitory, Acacia Lodge, Kian Teck Hostel, Kian Teck Dormitory and SCM Tuas Lodge.

Residents stand along corridors of Tuas South Dormitory in Singapore on April 19. Photo: AFP

Using widely available social messaging applications such as WhatsApp, the bot reminds infected residents in the dorms to monitor their temperature, heart rate and oxygen levels, using their native language.