A new network made up of groups such as hospitals and universities was launched on Friday to tackle Singapore's healthcare challenges.

The new Centre for Healthcare Innovation Co-Learning Network will bring local and overseas institutions together to deal with challenges sparked by the country's ageing population and slowing labour force growth. A total of 21 partners have joined the network led by Tan Tock Seng Hospital and the National Healthcare Group.

The initiative will focus on training healthcare workers differently so they can support the move from hospital to community care, said Minister of State for Health and Communications and Information Chee Hong Tat, who announced the network on Friday.

The group, which will meet a few times a year, will also look at how robotics can be used so that healthcare workers can focus on more important tasks to meet the needs of patients.

Tsao Foundation, a non-profit family foundation focused on ageing issues, hopes to bring in a community perspective of the patient and caregiver so that hospitals and healthcare staff can learn how to better care for them.

Separately, the Centre of Healthcare Innovation that was announced in 2014 will be ready in 2018. The training and medical hub will feature living labs and training facilities, among others.

Carolyn Khew