3 minute read
Connected intelligence
COVID has created the understanding that data is key, Amit Sadana, General Manager Africa, Middle East and South Asia, IQVIA, tells Sarah Cartledge
As governments all over the world have battled to limit the e ects of COVID, our knowledge of this new virus is constantly growing. From the start through to the development of vaccines and now medication, scientists have worked tirelessly to collate information. And key to this has been the data, once an almost negative word in the healthcare sphere but now the beacon of hope for this and future pandemics.
“Governments are now understanding how important data are,” says Amit Sadana, IQVIA General Manager for Africa, Middle East and South Asia. “At the outbreak of the pandemic there was chaos as many health departments didn’t even know what equipment such as X-ray machines or oxygen cylinders were present in their countries. Now they have become very focussed on collecting and utilising the data.
“At IQVIA, a key success factor, whether it’s our tech or our services, is helping customers collect data, analyse data, provide services on data, helping them to be more impactful from healthcare data point of view,” he continues. “We bring standardisation so that systems talk to each other while applying a variety of privacy-enhancing technologies and safeguards to protect individual privacy. We are not focused on systems integration, though. We are a data integrator. We see ourselves as building the pipes through which information flows.”
Enhancing public health
Currently IQVIA is working on several projects with di erent countries in various areas such as COVID vaccine rollout, diabetes risk and progression, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), implementing and administering national level insurance policies as well as digitising electronic medical records for health authorities.
“It’s the human aspect that is technology-enabled which allows us to collect data,” Amit says, adding; “We ensure that we explain the process clearly which entails describing the way we collect data and protect individual patient privacy as well as clarifying how we reimburse for providing them. We’re very transparent and I believe customers feel comfortable in
giving us the opportunity to collect data on their behalf.
“Governments are also looking to digitise everything. So, what is emerging is that not every country or every hospital or a clinic will need a new system, platform, or so ware, but instead would require someone to integrate what is already in use. That’s the role we see ourselves playing, particularly as regions may have their own healthcare traditions such as acupuncture in China and Ayurveda in India.”
Equally as important is managing data at the population level of each country and integrating it with health authorities. “For example, the Emirates airline is linked to the Dubai Health Authority, so they have a view on population and case movement,” adds Amit. “Country level data now has to be the key focus to identify risks and assess the current healthcare level to understand which section of the population is most at risk.”
Amit Sadana General Manager Africa, Middle East and South Asia IQVIA
Partnership culture
IQVIA’s footprint extends to many countries around the world, and they are keen to link their partners together so they can exchange information for the greater good. The HCP Space app links healthcare professionals across Africa, India and the Middle East in a holistic learning and networking environment, while similar microsites connect pharmacists, patients and life sciences companies. By hosting online conferences and networking events, IQVIA can help their clients understand and benefit from digital technology.
“We see ourselves at the centre of the healthcare ecosystem” Amit concludes. “Our aim is to drive healthcare forward. We work with both the public and private sectors, and we assist the various stakeholders to leverage data, transformative technologies, advanced analytics and domain expertise to discover previously unseen insights, drive smarter decisions, and unleash new opportunities. This is what the connected intelligence we deliver enables them to achieve.”
