What is the biggest issue faced by modern medicine currently?
One of the biggest challenges is cost and transparency. There must be intervention by local government or an international regulatory body that overlooks strategies and tactical implementation in order to qualify medical and pharmaceutical costs, ensuring sustainable pharmaceutical pricing for everyone during unprecedented times like the pandemic.
Second, the consumer or patient experience. The healthcare provider needs to understand and ensure customer interactions and outcomes that must not only be closely monitored, but the feedback to be timely streamlined as well so that excellent health flows naturally into every individual, family and communities.
Lastly, data and analytics, which is booming. This involves the collection, structuring, analysis, leveraging and appropriate utilisation through advanced analytics patient history, labs, Internet of Things (IoT), genomics, demographic, and lifestyle, that leads to improved healthcare outcomes and reduced administrative burdens ultimately transitioning the volume to value.
Identify three forces that will change healthcare
First, the digitalisation of the healthcare industry through machine learning or artificial intelligence, 3D bioprinting and digital healthcare data underpinning diagnostic and therapeutic platform. More data and statistics fused with machine learning will drive wellness norms in the long term.
Second, consumerism, which acts as a growth factor of the healthcare industry since the consumer always looks for more economical options that drive the B2C market growth exponentially.
Third, remote diagnostics or telemedicine. Virtual care will occupy a central role in remote patient monitoring, hence physicians highly embrace it. In addition, retail or community clinics will decentralise the traditional healthcare approach, evident during the peak of the pandemic as access to many hospitals was barred.
Where do you see nanomedicine’s potential?
Nanotechnology has made a particular impact in oncology, where nanoparticles were used by researchers in medicine not only to identify tumours but to act as a carrier in drug delivery systems pinpointing targeted spots. It has brilliant potential as a research tool in shortening the incubation cycle, disease diagnostic and monitoring, implants, regenerative medicine, and biomedical science.
How will AI and robots help seniors live more independently?
With the advent of AI, a task can be executed without human assistance through simple commands.
For example, the creation of a life-like chatbot can undertake responsibility for a patient’s medication, doctors’ appointment and timely meals with reminders, creating a sense of independence which in turn shrink their anxiety level, giving rise to positive health outcomes and longevity. More often than not, pain levels are monitored through facial recognition.
AI also delivers benefits in preventive care, through capturing by remote monitoring a senior patient’s primary data such as pulse, blood pressure, routine vitals, EMR data, and more through wearables.
When it comes to robotics, the technology is of great help in an account of minor tasks with precision like fetching food or water for a senior patient. Moreover, it handles emotional and social needs, and addresses loneliness, providing companionship in the truest sense.
Cancer should be a thing of the past. Do you agree?
Yes. Scientific communities are highly optimistic about cancer cure and immense research is going on to accentuate this even further, mainly through precision medicine curating a customised treatment based on the patient's genes and history once the tumour cells are identified. This is followed by a targeted therapy that cuts down duration and cost of the treatment.
This will fasten recovery times. Soon targeted therapy will become a norm. Studies are being conducted on enhancing the power of one's immune systems to combat the disease as well.
Epigenetic drugs prove advantageous in turning the cancer cells into normal cells instead of destroying them. In addition, there has been significant development in identifying the genes in pathways that drive the metastasis, whose spread can be curtailed, leading to early recovery of cancer patients.
Comment on the efficiency and potential of telemedicine.
Convenience is key. A recent global survey depicts that 70% of patients prefer easy access to
healthcare services. Virtual healthcare through telemedicine has become the norm and is growing exponentially ever since people started to restrict themselves from seeing a doctor or physician in person during the pandemic concerning their safety.
The biggest advantage of telemedicine is having the best possible healthcare with total freedom of consultation timings.
Telemedicine has also reduced unnecessary non-urgent ER visits, eliminating transportation costs of the patient and increasing hospital profits by not having to provide ambulances even for routine trips, easing the overall load of healthcare providers.
Telemedicine also gives the patient complete control to pick the best available specialist with access to a large number and not only stick to a particular physician.
Do you see a shift in healthcare providers with evolving needs of patients?
Yes, definitely! There is a massive paradigm shift in healthcare providers as they realise safeguarding patients and maintaining their trust through technological evolution is the only way forward. New technologies are being adopted by healthcare providers called patient-centric task forces to adjust the dynamic needs of today’s patients.
Healthcare delivery has moved to patients’ homes and devices and is no longer in large buildings or clinics.
How effective is healthcare at home? Is the hospital at home a new normal?
Healthcare at home effectively ensures the comfort and safety of a patient as there are many chronically ill patients at the hospital. This increases the risk of contracting other infections.
In addition, being at home with your family and loved ones produces a quicker recovery time, where you can also have either a nurse or a doctor with you as well all the time.
Hospitals at home will be the new normal despite some resistance from providers and payers.
What is the long-term outlook for the healthcare sector in the Middle East?
Various factors will take the MENA healthcare industry to a new whole new level including technological adjustments, attention to resilience, agility, and productivity, along with treating the whole patient. Combining these elements will alter the power of healthcare from providers to patients at a pace than anticipated because of the pandemic.
Healthcare players in the region must come together to collaborate in shaping the future of healthcare, working on strategy, policy, and regulation; governance and partnerships; funding and financing; and information and communication technology (ICT), laying a solid foundation of data infrastructure.
Expand on Leader Healthcare’s readiness in shaping the health ecosystem of the future.
Leader Healthcare is dedicated to providing access to innovative treatments that transform the lives of people with health complications. From Critical Care & Resuscitation, Dermatology and Aesthetics, Medical Simulation and Home Healthcare Solutions, Leader Healthcare has touched millions of lives in MENA, APAC and North America.
In addition, we specialise in Ophthalmology, Spa & Wellness, Neurology, General Medicine & Hospital Furniture, Pulmonology, ENT, General Surgery, Project & Services, Operating Room Solutions, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Radiology, Obstetrics, and Gynecology and Respiratory & Home Healthcare.
Being a leading healthcare company for more than a decade, Leader Healthcare plays a strategic role in the global healthcare ecosystem. The same will be evident at Arab Health 2022, where we seek to shape new standards, optimise treatment, build evidence, create sustainable access and provide community support in people's care and wellbeing. With technology and innovation taking centre stage even more after the pandemic, Leader Healthcare will showcase an exceeding range of healthcare technologies, products and solutions across different horizons.
Connect with us and be a part of our mission in striving to leverage the brightest minds into the most healing hands at Arab Health 2022 from January 24-27, 2021, Dubai World Trade Centre.
Meet our experts and know more about our commitment towards better healthcare in the prosperous nation of the United Arab Emirates at Booth F10, Hall #4. We are waiting to host you starting 10am until 5pm on all four days of the show.
