When healthcare meets tech

China, apart from struggling with the surge in coronavirus cases, is witnessing a shrinking labour force. 'Manzella Report' states that the worker shortage is happening in China's coastal manufacturing regions. It has taken a serious shape in Guangzhou and Shanghai, where there is an estimated 30% to 70% gap between the number of workers demanded and the ones available. Chinese media also reiterates that an increasing number of workers, who were previously employed in these coastal manufacturing hubs, are now seeking work near their home districts.

Speaking about the crisis in China, let’s not forget about another problem brewing within the tech industry. Many of Wall Street's experienced investors are now being plagued by recollections of the dot-com crisis, as 2022's stock market collapse gives them considerable déjà vu. Since 2022, the S&P 500 has decreased by 19%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq has fared even worse, falling more than 28%. The sector flourished during the COVID period, as the global lockdowns forced companies to adopt technological solutions, in order to stay in touch with their remote workers and keep the daily businesses going.

However, ‘Metaverse’ provides a ray of hope for the sector. Ever since Facebook changed its name to Meta in 2021, the game-changing potential of the 3D virtual world to revolutionise the formal economy is quickly catching everyone’s attention.

Concepts like ‘Virtual Office’, ‘Metaverse ATM’, and ‘Digital Stores’ are becoming new tech catchphrases.

While the International Finance’s last edition of the year revolves around these topics, our cover story is about the inspiring transformational journey of Bahrain’s King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH), which aided by Artificial Robotic Process Automation Software (RPA Software), has been changing the health sector for the better.