BHF360° | DECEMBER 2021
Emerging trends in healthcare
Beyond tools Innovative approaches to influence progress towards universal health coverage
In the midst of growth, we must not lose sight of the innovation we truly need. To ensure that technology helps the world achieve universal health coverage (UHC) we need to learn to interact with technology to alleviate the burden of disease currently being carried by patients and the general public. Conversely, learning to utilise existing technology will lead to a better understanding of the needs of patients, protecting the privacy of patients and the public at large, establishing policies that promote equitable access to quality services, and ensuring the use of data for decisionmaking.
Understanding needs Interacting with technology will require prioritising solutions that help
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with understanding what patients need, and determining how they can access services that transform their lives. Many examples and narratives have flooded our inboxes throughout this year alone, addressing the numerous uses of technology before and during the pandemic. These examples of automated solutions include telemedicine, contact tracing applications, supply chain management software, mobile testing sites and laboratories, machine-learning and artificial intelligence, and the use of geographical information systems. These technologies have all enhanced our collective ability to manage challenging global health situations. However, there has been a remarkable lack of patient stories to confirm
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B O A R D O F H E A LT H C A R E F U N D E R S
the impact of said solutions. The complete narrative of the value and impact of these solutions must also include reports from patients and the public who benefited from them. Otherwise, decisions around technology will continue to be made with incomplete narratives.
Protecting privacy In discussing the potential of new and existing technologies, we cannot ignore increased concerns about data privacy and calls for fit-to-purpose regulations. Effective use of innovations and technology requires a deeper consideration of its positive impacts and significant efforts to mitigate adverse effects. The rapid adoption of technology-based solutions calls for an update in processes and policies to ensure that equitable access to quality health services does not also lead to compro-
...we need to learn to interact with
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s the world continues to learn from lessons brought about by the pandemic, our collective dependency on technology is increasing in every sector, including global health. When considering opportunities and solutions addressing population health matters, few would argue to exclude technology.
technology to alleviate the burden of disease currently being carried by patients and the general public.
