Policy-Makers Should Boost Digital Health

Healthcare systems can become more sustainable with the help of disruptive health technologies through changing the building-blocks of the system: the patients and the doctors. Such a bottom-up method should also be facilitated by policy-makers. Healthcare is unsustainable. That simple, but powerful statement is true in many countries around the globe. According to OECD projections, in Europe, public expenditure on health and long-term care in OECD countries is set to increase from around 6% of GDP today to almost 9% of GDP in 2030 and as much as 14% by 2060, unless governments can contain costs. The international organization also found that the causes for the rising public costs stem from the growing needs of ageing populations, the rising incomes driving higher expectation – and the introduction of new technologies. The number of medical professionals does not keep up with the growing needs of ageing or increasing populations, there are many places with doctor or nurse shortages. Technology is outpacing the healthcare systems and the bureaucratic authorization systems allowing innovative treatment methods or new pharmaceutical solutions. It is an alarming situation and I believe that on the long-run only a bottom-up change with the help of disruptive health technologies can allow for arriving at more sustainable health systems while preserving the human touch as the highest priority. First and foremost, the individuals in the bottom of the pyramid must change. The way...
Source: The Medical Futurist - Category: Information Technology Authors: Tags: Healthcare Design future gc4 healthcare policy healthcare systems Innovation Medicine policy-making Source Type: blogs