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Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across sectors and geographies have proven their agility and adaptability in the face of the biggest pandemic in living history, pivoting business models and delivery methods to keep them afloat in the face of increased public restrictions. Three years after adapting to significant business disruption, many markets worldwide are witnessing price increases in business health insurance, a trend that appears to be more prevalent for SMEs.
Healthcare costs are on the rise in most regions. Over the next three years, more than three-quarters of health insurers (78 per cent) expect greater or significantly higher medical trends. During this time frame, 84 per cent of insurers in Europe, 73 per cent in Asia-Pacific, 69 per cent in Latin America, and 60 per cent in the Middle East and Africa anticipate a higher or significantly higher uptick in medical expenditure.
This global pattern of medical inflation (an increase in per-unit costs for the same service) is expected to continue well past 2023. According to recent projections, the Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the highest jump in medical inflation, projected to rise from 6.9 per cent to 10.2 per cent. Latin America (18.2 per cent to 18.9 per cent) and the Middle East (10.5 per cent to 11.5 per cent) are projected to see a modest increase in costs. Europe has historically experienced lower levels of cost increase but is now also expected to face a record cost increase from 5.6 per cent to 8.6 per cent.
North America is the only region experiencing a decline in its anticipated figures, with a drop from 9.4 per cent to 6.5 per cent projected for 2023. Although inflation is expected to decrease in 2023, US employers are still apprehensive about cost and volatility and have not yet experienced the positive effects. The high cost of new medical technologies and providers’ desire for higher profit margins continue to have a significant impact on medical expenses. Insurers also point to broader concerns that influence these costs, including the reduction in the quality and funding of public health systems and geopolitical crises.
A US-based study of the small business health insurance market reveals that 95 per cent of SME owners have seen the cost of health insurance increase over the past four years, and 56 per cent estimate the yearly increase in healthcare costs to be 10 per cent or higher. When asked how the rising cost of health insurance impacts their business, the surveyed SME owners cite that they have had to pass the cost on to their customers by increasing prices for their products and services. They also find the rising cost of health insurance is affecting their competitiveness in talent attraction and causing them to delay growth plans like purchasing key equipment. Thirty-seven per cent of respondents said they do not offer health insurance because the costs are too high.
Compared to medical plan expense management or containment, 68 per cent of insurers surveyed by Mercer worldwide predicted that employers will prioritise plan enhancements that address employee attraction, retention, and engagement. Insurers estimate that internationally, less than one-third (32 per cent) of plan sponsors will lower coverage to cut costs. This perspective is most likely influenced by larger trends in the workplace, such as the lack of talent, the changing nature of the workforce, and shifting employee expectations.
Medical inflation affects SMEs more acutely than larger organisations. Unlike larger companies, SMEs lack the benefits of a larger pool of insured employees, greater bargaining power with health insurance providers, and the support of full-time human resources personnel. As a result, these businesses are often left with limited options when faced with increased health insurance premiums.
Analytics firm GlobalData notes that the health of the SME insurance market is dependent on the number of SMEs in each country, so if liquidations start to rise, then the number and value of insurance contracts will decline. SMEs that do survive will have to drastically cut their costs, which may include insurance coverage. Considering that globally 90 per cent of all businesses are SMEs and account for 50 per cent of all jobs, this could have far-reaching consequences for the wider economy.
In Europe, the cost-of-living crisis is showing no signs of coming to an end, with continuing geopolitical uncertainty, inflation, and energy prices still sky high, says Ben Carey-Evans, Senior Insurance Analyst at GlobalData. “On top of rising inflation, consumers are facing higher mortgage rates, which will impact both homeowners and renters as landlords will be likely to raise rents. Therefore, consumers will have less disposable income to spend, which will further impact SMEs.”
Insurance companies may have to prioritise customer retention, even if it means a temporary decrease in profits. A short-term fix might be to offer adaptable insurance to keep clients on board. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose significant challenges for businesses, there is growing interest in the potential return of payment holidays and flexible payment terms. These measures were widely used during the initial outbreak, and many experts believe they could once again prove valuable in supporting struggling enterprises. Insurers may have found a better solution to prevent customers from leaving altogether by allowing customers to toggle specific policies on and off so they can manage their payments more effectively. “It will be a tough year for insurers in the SME market, with the level of concern extremely high. Insurers that can stand out by offering innovative products, such as on-demand insurance — or at least communicate well with clients — will be most likely to complete increasingly difficult renewals,” Carey-Evans adds.
In the Middle East, Abu Dhabi’s recent flexible health insurance programme for entrepreneurs and investors demonstrates a potentially replicable model for the globally underserved SME segment of the insurance market. In response to the rising needs of the market and to elevate the emirate’s position as an attractive destination, the new insurance options extend to investors and holders of free business licenses, their families, and their employees for the costs of treatment services amounting to Dh150,000 annually. “Initiatives such as the flexible health insurance, ease the burden on businesses, especially startups, as they join the business world,” said Hala Khaled Al Ameri, Executive Director of the Competitiveness Office of Abu Dhabi (COAD) at the ADDED in a statement.
Other insurance features include 100 per cent emergency coverage, a 20 per cent co-pay of the cost of all outpatient treatment services, and a 30 per cent co-pay for medications. The programme also offers the possibility of upgrading insurance coverage according to the patient’s needs. The feasibility of this model globally remains to be seen, as factors affecting access to affordable health insurance for SMEs can vary across different regions and healthcare systems.
This article appears in Omnia Health magazine. Read the full issue online today
The future of healthcare is digital, as we know, and the metaverse as an upcoming technology has enormous potential for the industry. The metaverse is essentially a cumulation of many enabling technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality, quantum computing, and the internet of medical devices.
These technologies are bringing about a lot of changes within the healthcare sector. In academics, for instance, it brings the potential for healthcare training, providing more exposure globally, and can connect learners to interact actively among themselves and with patients worldwide. The opportunities are immense, like deep diving into discussions while navigating a three-dimensional model of the human body.
It also benefits patients equally. Using just a headset, patients can access a virtual reality medical setting that focuses on physical therapy treatments. Providing healing surroundings will create a calming space for the patient and encourage control over physiological responses, while pre- and post-operative virtual reality patient counselling in the metaverse will help improve patient recoveries.
Surgeries can also become more advanced with the metaverse. Reconstructive surgeries, which are complicated and intense procedures, with the help of a virtual avatar, could help accurately predict the surgery’s outcome. Simulation tools can be more accurately built as well. This will help in further taking surgical or medical decisions for individuals.
Shedding light on the impact of the metaverse in healthcare, Dr. Fatih Mehmet Gul, Chief Executive Officer, Fakeeh University Hospital, discusses the implications of the technology on the industry. Excerpts:
Metaverse or any virtual care setting can potentially reduce healthcare infrastructure and delivery costs, which can benefit both hospitals and patients. However, hospitals will always have use of a physical set-up for surgeries and all types of advanced healthcare services. In the long run, this could provide healthcare to a larger patient base with low-cost functions. As a smart hospital, Fakeeh University Hospital is already providing virtual care with teleconsultations and offering our healthcare products online through FUH online. With the right security and outcomes in place, the metaverse can make a place for itself in the business models of many hospitals.
Dr. Fatih Mehmet Gul, Chief Executive Officer, Fakeeh University Hospital
Point-of-care settings are defined as healthcare services and medical diagnostics at or near the patient. In the metaverse, most basic services can be provided online. As far as hospitals are concerned, first consultations and references can be taken online through the metaverse. For doctors to explain the condition and offer a solution, 3D models can be used to drive patient consultations and understanding. Even diagnostics have a way in the metaverse. Global firms are exploring methods to develop X-ray technology that can scan a photo to produce an X-ray. This has the capacity to turn the most basic function of hospitals virtual.
Mental healthcare that has taken the forefront in the past few years has benefitted from metaverse and VR. Digital experiences within the metaverse can be moulded to have a direct impact on the behaviour of the patient.
The metaverse can be a game-changer for the healthcare sector but can also bring its share of challenges. It represents a paradigm shift in healthcare that stakeholders must be aware of. The outcomes range from smooth integration across the current medical infrastructure to balancing hospital costs and data security/privacy problems.
Additionally, the market needs to be studied well first and perhaps prepped too. There may be a set of patients who would not be ready for metaverse and still prefer the traditional methods of consultation and treatment.
Privacy and security of healthcare data is another dimension. To increase the likelihood of individuals adopting metaverse, technology businesses should explore ways to bring more security and patient consent.
Lastly, any modern technology comes at an added cost, at least in the initial phase. Thus, it is vital that hospitals and other healthcare providers, along with tech developers, should find a way to make the metaverse more user-friendly and cost-effective.
This article appears in Omnia Health magazine. Read the full issue online today.
Learn more about managing healthcare data in the Metaverse era by accessing our ebook here.
Back to TechnologyWhen Zaina Nael Numan and Reem Salah AlAnsari signed up for LabQ, the first-of-its-kind inter-college quiz competition hosted by Medlab Middle East 2023, little did they know that their scientific knowledge and experience would lead them to victory. The students represented the Medical Laboratory Sciences department at the University of Sharjah and competed against some of the top young minds in the UAE in the subjects of pathology and laboratory medicine.
“I can honestly say that it was one of the most taxing yet most fulfilling challenges I have taken on in my college years,” said AlAnsari, who is currently in her final year of Medical Laboratory Sciences. “The hours of studying and staying up late at night on campus revising all paid off when we saw our winning score.”
Zaina Nael Numan and Reem Salah AlAnsari
According to Numan, participating in the LabQ competition was an unforgettable experience. “The competition allowed us to showcase our knowledge and skills in medical laboratory sciences, and to learn from others as well. It was rewarding to see how our hard work paid off in the end. LabQ competition was a great experience that allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. I am grateful for this opportunity,” she said. Numan is also in her last year of university as a medical laboratory scientist.
When asked about what inspired the duo to join the first edition of LabQ, Dr. Mohamed Madkour, Ph.D., Clinical & Molecular Biochemistry, Assistant Professor of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences at the University of Sharjah, said that it was the genuine intention behind the competition, which is to foster connections between colleges and programmes and create an interface for ‘the exchange of science, for the betterment of science’.
“Meeting our colleagues in a setting built for medical laboratory scientists and getting to see the knowledge that the next generation possesses raised our curiosities and motivated us to participate,” he added.
Dr. Madkour played a crucial role in preparing the students for the competition. Aside from holding different academic positions at Qatar University and the University of Sharjah in the last 15 years, he possesses training experience in clinical medical laboratories — specifically in molecular genetics techniques and their application in different types of diseases — as well as a clinical biochemistry lab. He was also part of the infectious disease lab in the WHO Reference Laboratories and serves as an editorial board member and reviewer for several Molecular Biochemistry journals.
Dr. Mohamed Madkour with the award
Dr. Madkour not only lent his knowledge and expertise in the field to help the students gain confidence but also helped them obtain the right resources to explore various topics during their study sessions. The team also took part in bi-weekly meetings to evaluate their progress and clear doubts.
“The minute the results were revealed after the final round, I was overwhelmed by a combination of happiness, delight, relief, and pride in my students and their accomplishment. This win proves that the oldest programme of Medical Laboratory Sciences in the UAE – which is the one at the University of Sharjah – has a strong curriculum and produces students that can compete with their peers in the global market,” he added.
As part of the prize, the young champions and Dr. Madkour will embark on an all-expenses-paid educational trip to Medlab Asia 2023, which is set to take place from August 16 to 18 in Bangkok, Thailand. There, they will have the opportunity to interact with fellow scientists from across the globe, expand their network, and discover the latest innovations in the medical laboratory field.
“I hope that I can carry all the knowledge I have gained with me through my next challenge, whether that be serving my community in a hospital laboratory or continuing my studies in the future,” said Al Ansari.
Speaking about her future goals, Numan is excited to pursue a master’s degree in medical laboratory sciences after graduation. “My passion for the field has grown tremendously over the years, and I am eager to deepen my knowledge and skills by delving further into the field. This decision was largely influenced by my professor Dr. Madkour, who has been a great mentor and guide throughout my academic journey. I am confident that pursuing a master’s degree will help me achieve my long-term goals, as my ultimate aspiration is to use my education and research to make a positive impact on the field of medical laboratory sciences.”
This article appears in Omnia Health magazine. Read the full issue online today.
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) recently launched a unique initiative aimed at raising and enhancing legal awareness among health professionals working across private health facilities in the emirate.
The initiative, which includes a series of awareness roadshows started at Fakeeh University Hospital, will continue until the end of this year. The aim of the initiative is to help healthcare professionals comply with the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern healthcare practice in Dubai and the UAE.
This is the first phase of the initiative that aims to enhance compliance with health laws, regulations and legislation in Dubai and the UAE, to help further enhance the competitiveness of the health system in the Emirate.
The initiative aims to educate healthcare professionals on the most recent developments in legislation in the health sector in Dubai, and the importance of keeping up with those legislations. It discusses systems, policies and procedures that regulate the health sector in Dubai and ensures competitiveness and operational efficiency.
Dr. Ahmad Sulaiman, Director of Legal Affairs department at the DHA, highlighted the importance of the initiative, which reflects the authority's keenness to assist private health facilities in Dubai to provide an optimal healthy work environment that is compatible with all applicable laws and regulations, and ensures the preservation of the rights and privacy of patients as well as the rights of health professionals.
He said the awareness campaign aims at further improving the quality of health services and patients' experience.
Dr. Sulaiman said that the initiative, which is being implemented through a series of field visits, comprises officials from the DHA’s Department of Legal Affairs and is taking place in coordination with the DHA’s Health Regulation Sector and private health facilities in the Emirate.
The team will carry out a series of visits across healthcare facilities to listen to the queries of health professionals, introduce them to the procedures that must be followed to avoid legal violations, discuss medical cases and complaints as well as clarify legal policies and processes.
By attending the legal training, healthcare professionals can ensure that they understand their legal obligations and can continue to provide safe and effective care to their patients with complete knowledge of healthcare policies and regulations in the country.
Planning in generations and considering the bigger picture when making decisions for the future of our planet is at the heart of sustainability. Essentially, committing to sustainable development requires a deep understanding of the connection between human, animal, and environmental health. This is embodied by One Health, a global concept put forward by the Word Health Organization (WHO) that aims to optimise health outcomes through collaborative multi-sectoral efforts.
Undeniably, numerous challenges must be overcome before we can adequately and sustainably provide for the world’s growing population. To address the significant health, poverty, food production and climate issues we currently face, the United Nations established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This global strategy, designed as a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all” by 2030, is guided by six main principles – strengthening global cooperation, data-driven decision-making, minimising our footprint, innovating for a better world, supporting animal caretakers, and prioritising animal health and welfare.
To achieve the SDGs and make a tangible difference within the animal welfare sector, it is crucial that the complex, interdependent relationship between human, animal, and environmental health is recognised. This requires ongoing global efforts in innovating and advancing animal care through preventive treatments to have a measurable impact on the long-term sustainability of our planet.
Animal well-being enriches humanity in numerous capacities. For that reason, mitigating the risk of transmissible animal diseases (zoonoses) and managing emerging ones is crucial to ensuring future sustainable development. As such, animal health and production processes that support health, economic development and food security are key to achieving the SDGs within the projected timeframe. In resource-poor regions and parts of the world that rely heavily on farming for their livelihood, the loss of livestock is devastating to families and communities. Animal-borne diseases pose a significant threat to food security, accounting for the loss of roughly 20 per cent of global annual livestock production. More emphasis needs to be placed on disease management for long-term, sustainable health, including animal breeding for disease resilience.
An estimated 60 per cent of human diseases can be attributed to zoonoses, with 75 per cent of emerging diseases transmitted by animals. Many of these diseases have high mortality rates, with the potential to cause epidemics and pandemics.
In light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the need to combat infectious diseases has been a major focus of world health. Raising awareness of animal disease epidemics and sourcing innovative, preventive treatments should be further prioritised in the coming decade.
Rabies, a zoonotic viral disease that occurs in both domestic and wild animals, is a prominent example of a key issue that requires more concerted preventative efforts within the animal health sector. The WHO lists rabies as one of the world’s most deadly infectious diseases that continues to cause tens of thousands of deaths per year. Through raising awareness, education efforts and immunising dogs, cats, monkeys, bats and a range of mammals, the animal-to-human transmission of rabies has a high potential of being controlled.
With regard to innovative practices that aim to address the spread of rabies, technological advancements are being constantly developed. This includes a pilot project launched by researchers at the University of Surrey, who came up with wearable smart pet devices that identify dog behaviours and monitor movements that contribute to the spread of rabies. Such projects help identify the efficient distribution of vaccines in dogs to fight the disease.
Safeguarding the health of communities also relies on fighting transboundary and emerging diseases that impact livestock, such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and the Bluetongue virus. Due to their ever-evolving nature, there is a need for healthcare entities to adopt an agile mindset and commit to constant research and rapid development to develop solutions that protect against potential outbreaks and ensure that food security is maintained.
With a purpose-led mindset that recognises how essential animal wellbeing is to a sustainable future for generations, spreading awareness, encouraging joint efforts, and adopting innovative practices across sectors are foundational elements to our collective mission of developing a healthier future for all and preventing disease in both animals and humans.
Evren Ozlu is the Head of Animal Health IMETA at Boehringer Ingelheim.
References available on request.
This article appears in Omnia Health magazine. Read the full issue online today
Hayat Biotech, a biotechnology company based in the UAE, recently organised a thought-provoking discussion panel titled "Revolutionising Life Sciences from Abu Dhabi" at Khalifa University in the capital city. In collaboration with Boopin, the event marked the inauguration of the Life-Biotech Dialogue series, which aims to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and explore key priorities within the healthcare sector.
Mustafa Al Rawi, Acting Managing Director for CNN Business Arabic, moderated the panel discussion emphasising the significance of the growing life sciences industry, focusing on the role that the UAE currently plays and will continue to play in the future. Drawing from the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of self-reliance and accessibility to essential medical treatments and services for the population was highlighted. Moreover, the necessity of collaboration with neighbouring countries and global partners to build resilience on a global scale, transcending geographical boundaries, was also underscored.
The discussion at the event aimed not only to mitigate risks but also to explore the opportunities that lie within the life sciences sector. It highlighted Hayat Biotech as a prime example of a homegrown company from Abu Dhabi, UAE, with its investors making proactive decisions.
The opening remarks delivered by Hayat Biotech's Deputy CEO, Naser Al Yammahi, addressed the current healthcare landscape. “We are hosting this discussion at a crucial time of a global pharmaceutical shortage and are approaching these challenges with humility, a great sense of responsibility, unwavering commitment, and an eagerness to work with healthcare stakeholders. This is the time when collaboration between national healthcare entities and our international firms has become more crucial than ever. If there was anything we have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that sharing knowledge and information is crucial to combat global pandemics,” he said.
Other key issues in the discussion were the importance of training and education, research and development, global collaboration and how the UAE can become a life sciences hub and support clinical trials thanks to a diverse pool of nationalities. Panellists Dr. Dirk Kuhlmeier, Co-founder of Fraunhofer Project Center; Dr. Nawal Al Kaabi, Senior Advisor at Hayat Biotech; Dr. Dirk Richter, Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DoH) Director of Health Sector Innovation; Yunli Zhao, Vice President of Hayat Biotech Production; and Dr. Mira Mousa, Deputy Director of the Biomedical Science Discovery Program at Khalifa University discussed all these key aspects at great length.
Aligning with DoH’s mission to become a global hub for research and innovation in life sciences and following the declaration of collaboration signed between DoH and Hayat Biotech in January 2023, Hayat Biotech's cutting-edge biotechnology facilities located in Abu Dhabi and Belgrade, Serbia, boast a combined annual production capacity of 230 million vials.
"Research and development (R&D) have proven to be crucial during the pandemic, highlighting their significance to everyone. To control and mitigate the negative impacts of the pandemic, several key areas have emerged. Firstly, vaccine development became a top priority, with efforts focused on developing vaccines swiftly to save lives and ensure their safety and effectiveness in combating the virus. Secondly, the exploration of therapeutic options became essential, considering the novel nature of the disease and virus. R&D played a critical role in developing effective antivirals, antibodies, and other therapeutics to minimise the detrimental effects of COVID-19. Lastly, surveillance and monitoring required reliable diagnostic tools to effectively track and monitor the disease's progression," commented Al Kaabi.
Furthermore, Hayat Biotech, in collaboration with IROS, has established itself as a preferred partner for clinical studies in the healthcare industry due to its expertise and ongoing commitment to conducting clinical trials. In addition to the eight clinical trials that have already been conducted across the UAE, Hayat Biotech is developing new and innovative biopharma products that address unmet medical needs or improve upon existing treatments.
Qatar is building a world-class healthcare infrastructure. The View Hospital, developed by Elegancia Healthcare and affiliated with Cedars-Sinai, is a leading light, setting new standards in medical excellence. The hospital runs entirely on HPE Aruba Networking, creating a secure environment for the latest in medtech, IoT, and smart building management.
“Stability, resiliency, and high availability were our priorities. Aruba’s reputation, and its local support, made it the clear favourite. Plus, Aruba has an exciting five-year roadmap,” said Nasser Alawad, Cluster Director, IT Healthcare at Elegancia Healthcare, operators of The View.
The View Hospital is a leading healthcare provider in Qatar, with 244 single private suites, 12 operating rooms, and 20 intensive care beds. The vision for the hospital was to adopt the latest in medtech and workplace mobility tools and allow a SaaS approach to the best healthcare applications. The strategy was clear, establish a unified network, from edge to cloud, with a single view of operations and granular security policies for the desired expected outcomes:
The healthcare tourism market is surging. Worldwide, the number of people willing to travel to find the right treatment at the right price is climbing steadily. The global market is expected to be worth US$53.51 billion by 2028.
In the Middle East, where there is a tradition of wealthier patients travelling to Europe for treatment, inward investment has transformed the healthcare infrastructure. Locals no longer need to travel; many Gulf countries are now thriving healthcare destinations.
Qatar, host of the 2022 World Cup and home to one of the world’s busiest international airports is no stranger to welcoming foreign tourists. It has serious ambitions to capture a slice of the medical tourism market, a regional market forecast to grow 8.5 per cent a year over the next five years. Qatar is pitching itself at the top end of the market.
To do so, the country is investing in new facilities, striking partnerships with globally recognised healthcare brands, and hoping to attract the world’s best medical staff. Qatar’s advantage is that it starts with a relatively blank slate and has the resources to invest in the world’s best.
“The View Hospital upholds the highest international standards in terms of an integrated healthcare system, state-of-the-art technology, and modern medical equipment,” said Thomas M. Priselac, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cedars-Sinai.
The View Hospital is one of the leading lights of Qatar’s new healthcare sector. Aimed at the very highest end of the market, it features 62 VIP suites, including three royal, six ambassadorial, and three presidential suites. All rooms in the 15-floor building come with a floor-to-ceiling view of Doha’s upmarket Pearl and West Bay districts.
The hospital is affiliated with Cedars Sinai in California, one of the world’s leading healthcare institutions. Medical teams at both hospitals will work together in sharing expertise, resources, and best practices to develop procedures that provide patients with the highest standard of care. The two hospitals will work together on training and research.
This technology is in the service of a better healthcare experience. Medical teams have complete workplace mobility, working off iPads with the latest patient data. Surgeons are assisted by Da Vinci and ARTIS pheno robotic equipment, ensuring operations are precise, quicker, and with fewer complications resulting in a faster recovery. Medical imaging taken in Doha using 3T MRI and Open MRI, a state-of-the-art 256 CT Scanner, is shared immediately with specialists in California. The pharmacy and laboratory use robotics to ensure testing and the issuing of all medication is consistent and traceable. All actions are synced with a patient’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR).
“Everything is integrated, and as much as possible is automated,” highlighted Alawad. “We are not paper-light; we are paperless. For visiting patients, hospital appointments can be booked via The View app. Using the geo-location capabilities of the Wi-Fi infrastructure, the hospital is future-ready for wayfinding services. Updates can be synchronised with display screens around the hospital. The in-room experience is comparable to that of a five-star hotel.”
Overall, said Alawad, the digital experience creates a calm, consistent, and efficient atmosphere.
A high-performance, secure network underpins The View’s digital workflows.
“We are a fully digital, cloud-first hospital, from A to Z,” shared Alawad. “And that requires a resilient, fully redundant network infrastructure. We need very high bandwidth to enable doctors to access our cloud applications. And the highest security standards to protect patient data.”
The edge-to-cloud network is powered by HPE Aruba Networking. The backbone network is built on Aruba CX switches, from the DC core to the LAN access, while the 101,000 sqm facility is blanketed in Aruba Wi-Fi 6 access points. Network Access Control is managed and automated for the entire network using Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager. In line with the hospital’s cloud-first strategy, Aruba Central's cloud-based network management is used as a single point of visibility and control for all network resources.
The use of Aruba CX switches in the hospital’s on-premises data centre is key. It establishes a robust network that is dynamic and highly automated. This cuts complexity, reduces the time needed to spot and troubleshoot issues, and simplifies the task of integrating new technologies.
The flexibility of the network supports The View Hospital’s SaaS strategy. It enables users and devices to securely connect to any application, whether hosted on-premises in The View’s private cloud or its Azure public cloud.
Crucially, with The View Hospital managing medical data for some of the region’s most important high net-worth individuals, it orchestrates the highest security standards across the network, built in the access points, switches, and gateways.
Aruba ClearPass authenticates, authorises, and enforces secure network access control with role-based network policies. This allows the hospital to create granular access specifically for different users and devices, whether guests or staff, environmental sensors or medical devices. With policy enforcement firewalls built into the access points, security policies can be applied at the very edge of the Wi-Fi point of access. Patches and upgrades are delivered live, in batches, and automatically, avoiding any disruptions to network uptime and healthcare services.
Together, this strengthens the confidence of The View Hospital in adopting new healthcare technology at the edge and integrating new applications. Digital solutions for the healthcare industry are arriving at an increasingly rapid pace, commented Alawad. The View Hospital wants to be in a position to adopt the latest and greatest. The open nature of the HPE Aruba Networking architecture enables the hospital to seamlessly integrate new technologies and third-party platforms.
“This is a long-term solution,” concluded Alawad. “The advantages in terms of stability and resilience are incalculable. We’re confident we’ll see a return on investment within five years.”
The MedTech sector is witnessing significant disruption in healthcare delivery as more care is transitioning outside the hospital, and this trend is expected to accelerate further in the next two to three years. Factors behind this disruption include the increasing focus of MedTech companies on aligning product and business portfolios to cater to ambulatory surgery centres (ASCs) and home healthcare and the growing use of digital tools such as remote patient monitoring (RPM) and wearables for monitoring.
The care transition is also significantly impacted by factors such as the closure of hospitals in the United States, challenges related to the availability of skilled healthcare professionals, and workforce burnout in traditional hospital settings. Based on a survey of physicians who serve predominantly Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) and Medicare Advantage (MA) patients, it is estimated that up to US$265 billion worth of care services (about 25 per cent of the total cost of care) for Medicare FFS and MA beneficiaries could shift from traditional facilities to homes by 2025 without a reduction in quality or access.
Increasing healthcare costs are prompting payors and providers to seek alternate healthcare delivery solutions such as ASCs and healthcare at home. The number of ASCs will increase with healthcare systems' ambitions to grow their footprint by building new centres to retain market share and expand revenue streams. ASCs are responsible for an estimated 50 per cent of all outpatient surgical procedures in the US. According to Frost & Sullivan estimates, in 2023, surgical procedure volumes in ambulatory surgical settings are expected to surge by 10 per cent in the country.
MedTech companies should customise their market access and sales strategies based on the decision-making authority and needs of the sites of care, which differ significantly from that of hospitals. Orthopaedic device companies have already created strategies to target ASCs, including customised product portfolios.
Hospital-at-home (HaH) programmes have gained significant traction across the US since the COVID-19 pandemic. Several providers offer these services with reimbursement support to allow care for low-acuity patients in their homes while preserving bed capacity for high-acuity patients in hospitals. Evidence supporting the programmes’ success continues to be collected.
As the use of remote patient monitoring, virtual care, and advanced analytics solutions increases, Frost & Sullivan anticipates rapid growth for these programmes. A core capability for providers to offer HaH programmes is small, portable, and smart medical devices that can be sent to patients’ homes and taken elsewhere as the need arises. Home-use medical devices (amid the trend of home health management for other chronic diseases) will be in demand.
The use of medical wearables at home for monitoring heart health, diabetes, respiration, and blood pressure has expanded significantly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Companies must focus on developing easy-to-read solutions with alarm systems at affordable price points.
Technology convergence in healthcare will continue to reshape care delivery, creating a shift towards consumerisation. This trend will gain momentum as consumers pivot towards managing their own well-being in more self-sufficient/independent settings. Disease monitoring, diagnosis, and analytics will be the key sectors for industry incumbents to build, establish, and strengthen their presence.
Digital technology use in healthcare delivery has increased exponentially since COVID-19 and is expected to accelerate further as companies start realising that it is more profitable to start selling solutions along with medical devices. An important factor driving a solutions-based business model is that it facilitates strong engagement between medical device companies and healthcare facilities, which can help them further expand their offerings.
According to Frost & Sullivan estimates, the global digital products and solutions for chronic disease screening and monitoring are expected to account for more than 50 per cent of MedTech companies’ revenues at the global level and may reach more than 75 per cent in the US in 2023.
Healthcare providers will look to MedTech companies to help address the shortage of healthcare professionals by leveraging innovations in workflow management. Providers will prefer to work with vendors that provide a one-stop-shop approach through unified digital and hardware ecosystems. This presents new prospects for MedTech companies to develop solution portfolios that address different parts of the healthcare value chain or to acquire companies that offer these.
Healthcare providers will collaborate with MedTech companies to address the growing shortage of healthcare professionals leveraging innovations in workflow management. Real-time location systems that quickly identify medical devices within healthcare facilities, operational efficiency solutions for workforce management, smart patient flow management, organised resource scheduling, and real-time inventory management to lower costs and prevent staff burnout will be key growth areas for MedTech companies going forward.
Bhaskar Vittal is the Industry Principal, Advanced MedTech Program, Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice, Frost & Sullivan.
This article appears in Omnia Health magazine. Read the full issue online today
People enjoy travelling to explore destinations or visit friends and relatives. Healthy travellers may catch a cold or acquire an infection. Most often, these travel-related illnesses are not serious. Medical travellers, or individuals that are travelling to receive healthcare outside their usual place of residence, often cross an international border to receive care while they are medically compromised. Travel for them is inherently riskier than the average tourist.
Approximately two million people annually travel to receive medical treatment, i.e., secondary, tertiary, or quaternary medical care. In addition to these medical travellers, an additional 225,000 to 500,000 people travel for elective “lifestyle” procedures, often involving surgical procedures to non-hospital settings such as clinics. In general, approximately 5.5 million medical-related trips take place every year; about 0.2 per cent of all people who travel internationally.
Medical travellers go from their place of residence to another destination location for treatment and then return home. The patient journey for these individuals may require that the home medical providers communicate with the destination providers to coordinate the care for the patient on the outbound and return journeys.
When patients change from one healthcare provider to another, these shifts are commonly referred to in the healthcare profession as “transitions of care”. Adding travel to the patient treatment plan increases the risk of miscommunication both in both documentation as well as clinical care. Because there are more handovers among providers, the likelihood of human error increases, generating more gaps in the transitions of care and increasing risk to the patient.
The peer-reviewed research into negative outcomes for medical travellers has focused on small numbers of people, cataloguing their complications. The reporting biases are that healthcare abroad is dangerous, a bad idea and that off-shore providers are less competent.
Regardless, it is clear that people will continue to choose to travel for medical care. Some negative outcomes are bound to take place, but there are steps that responsible healthcare providers can take to reduce the risks to patients travelling for medical treatment. A clear focus on post-discharge transitions of care can reduce the risk to patients, increase safety, and make international medical travel better for patients and providers.
There is no reliable information available about the frequency of sentinel events in medical travel. “Sentinel events” are those outcomes where the consequences to the patient are severe, and result in temporary or permanent harm, or death. In healthcare, the universally accepted measure of sentinel events is hospital readmissions and return visits to medical providers.
Hospital readmissions and return visits occur everywhere. For example, the average readmission rate for US hospitals is 15.50 per cent, while in the UK, emergency readmission rates range from 12.5 per cent to 13.8 per cent.
Using these numbers, a conservative global estimate of sentinel events in medical travel is 173,000 (low) to 833,000 (high) with a “most likely” average of 442,000 per year. Sentinel events in medical travel may trend towards the higher side since many individuals travelling for care are extremely ill, have complex medical conditions, and are seeking tertiary or quaternary care – all high-risk factors.
Reducing negative outcomes has been investigated, notably in the US, where they represent an area of focus because of their financial consequences. Research shows that improving transitions of care significantly reduces hospital readmissions and improves outcomes. Too often, the people discharged from care are: Unable to describe symptoms and signs to watch for;
In medical travel, there is no universally accepted standards for providers to use for post-discharge follow-up when patients return home. The healthcare providers in the home destination may not want to offer treatment to the patient, especially for complications.
Creating standards at the time of discharge can reduce the risk of complications. These well-established best practices include requiring “teach back” demonstration of learning about symptoms and what to be on the lookout for; providing the patient with simple, printed instructions in their primary language, and confirming that they can read and understand them. By adopting post-discharge follow-up with departing patients, healthcare providers can deliver better clinical outcomes, improve the patient experience, and burnish their brand as reputable healthcare destinations.
Sentinel events in international transitions of care are significant, generally not measured, and there does not appear to be much effort to prevent them. However, there are demonstrated standards of care in medical transitions that can be applied, and which would significantly reduce sentinel events and their associated costs, loss and risk.
As President of Stackpole & Associates, Inc., Irving Stackpole is internationally recognised in healthcare marketing, serving hundreds of clients on five continents. He holds appointments with European and US universities and a patent in digital healthcare technology from the USTPO.
References available on request.
This article appears in Omnia Health magazine. Read the full issue online today.
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