Fitbit, the US wearables firm, has secured a deal with the government of Singapore to supply fitness trackers and other services for up to one million people, as part of a major initiative to improve public health in the city state.

Although Singapore is widely recognised as having one of the best healthcare systems in the world, the country’s ageing population means cases of heart disease, diabetes and other age-related conditions are on the rise.

Singapore’s Health Promotion Board (HPB) already seeks to influence behaviour and healthier outcomes through its Smart Nation initiative and its new partnership with Fitbit intends to build on what has been achieved so far.

“This is Fitbit’s first major integration of a digital health platform and wearables into a national public health program globally,” Fitbit said in statement.

“The initiative, named Live Healthy SG, was uniquely designed for Singapore by Fitbit and the HPB to harness technology, behaviour insights and analytics to help Singaporeans get healthier through meaningful and sustained behaviour change.”

Under the terms of the deal, the company will supply free Fitbit Inspire trackers to Singaporeans who agree to sign up to its premium subscription service for a year, costing $10 a month.

Fitbit said there will be a “clear and seamless consent process” for those who sign up and agree to share their data, which the HPB will use to bolster its smart public health programmes.

“We intend to work with industry innovators, such as Fitbit, on additional efforts to use technology to provide Singaporeans with personalised health advice and nudges, so that they can take control of their own health,” said Zee Yoong Kang, CEO of the Health Promotion Board.

“Participants of this programme will benefit from Fitbit’s plans to incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning to encourage physical activity, healthy eating and better sleep quality,” he added.

Singaporeans are encouraged to pre-register for the scheme next month before it is fully rolled out in late October and, according to Fitbit CEO James Park, the initiative is expected to reach up to one million people, or roughly one fifth of the population.

Sourced from Fitbit, CNBC; additional content by WARC staff