A new wave of innovation in healthcare is on the rise. While many new technologies and solutions powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and biomedical engineering will be coming up, the focus will also shift to physical and mental well-being.   

Compiled here are some upcoming healthcare trends to watch out for next year:

Technology reigns

Wearables, mHealth, telemedicine, and digital health solutions, all of these technologies have the potential to transform the healthcare system in 2023 and the coming years.

Rapid expansion of AI and ML

Artificial intelligence and machine learning, currently the most popular technologies in healthcare, make predicting, diagnosing, monitoring, and treating patients more effortless and manageable in the healthcare sector. According to Residence Research, the global AI-in-healthcare market reached US$15.1 billion in 2022 and is expected to hit US$20.65 in 2023. And by 2030, the market will reach US$187.95 billion.

Top uses of AI:

• Medical image analysis: Medical AI can be applied to medical images, such as X-ray and MRI scans and other structural image sequences to assist healthcare professionals in interpreting the results.
• Drug discovery: AI can accelerate clinical research and drug discovery, especially when detecting side effects or finding the most efficient combination of medicines.
• Brain diseases: AI-powered medical devices help treat and detect neurological disorders, like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, by analyzing MRI scans.
• Preventive medicine: Predictive analytics powered by AI can help personalise healthcare. This can help clinicians adjust the level of care they provide to prevent it from happening.

Virtual communities and patient care

While companies develop innovative digital health products and structure that supports virtual communities, social media platforms allow patients to connect with other patients and healthcare professionals to receive and share critical health information online.

Connectivity to transform the Medtech Industry

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) will continue reinventing the way medical service providers and patients engage in a wide range of practices. This trend will profoundly impact manufacturers and suppliers, who need to invest in connected health technologies and services that meet the needs of the modern patient.

New supply chain disruptions

Supply chain disruptions will be a game changer for the health industry in the new few years. From the delivery of pharmaceuticals to the application of diagnostic tools and patient care services at the point of care in healthcare providers, supply chain disruptions could threaten patient health and safety.

Demand for healthcare software development to grow

The business of healthcare software development has been growing as more people have become aware of the need to take care of their health. In 2023, the industry will demonstrate a growing demand for high-quality patient treatment tools and services.

Personal wellness

As awareness to maintain a healthy quality of life arises, people are paying attention to maintaining overall health through nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and positive healthy habits.

Big Data

Big Data usage is a significant advance for healthcare trends. Big data can be extremely helpful in improvising the patient’s therapy and comparative lowering the cost of their diagnostics, thereby enhancing their welfare.

Home-based care will get a closer look

Home-based care’s surface logic will continue to make it quite appealing. Who wouldn’t want to receive care in the home instead of a sterile hospital or clinic setting?

Biopharmaceutical innovation will continue to impress

The scope and scale of biopharmaceutical innovation is unprecedented in its potential impact. Would you be impressed to hear about a cure for sickle cell disease or Type I diabetes? All of these interventions are under development. However, pricing of these interventions is another matter altogether.

Tech and retail will continue to inch into healthcare delivery

Healthcare is an attractive marketplace for any non-healthcare company that is looking for a new source of top-line revenue growth. Even though margins in most sectors of healthcare are low and the regulatory environment and rules are complicated, healthcare sector incursions by big tech and retail will continue.

Focus on clinician burnout

Healthcare organisations, forced to look at their failed human capital strategies in a highly competitive labour market, will begin to look at the underlying causes for burnout in their systems.

Mind over body

Until recently, when people said that they would take care of their health, they automatically referred to physical health. This is no longer the case now. Mental health is gaining in importance.

Geroscience

We all want to 'get old', but nobody wants to be old. This is beginning to translate into just about every stage of life and every aspect of life. Geroscience is gaining importance and even promises to have a broader impact on our general health system.

Circadian health

Sleep has received increasing attention in recent decades. The emphasis on getting a good night's sleep led to several related trends but sleep will now become circadian health.

Medical tourism

Wellness was already taking up 17 per cent of the entire expenditures in the travel industry. This has only exploded in the post Covid years and instigated various wellness centres to focus on medical services as well.

 

---

WATCH ON DEMAND: Looking ahead: Healthcare trends on the horizon for 2023

Find out what experts Dana Powell Baker, Dr. Jhonatan Bringas Dimitriades and Dr. Nadine Nehme predict for healthcare trends due to disrupt the industry in 2023 in the latest Omnia Health webinar. 

Watch on demand now

---

 

<< Back to Technology

The global healthcare industry has long relied on traditional payment models, such as insurance-based systems, and fee-for-service arrangements, in which healthcare providers are paid based on the amount of healthcare services they deliver.

However, in recent years, rising costs and the increasing demand for high-quality healthcare have driven interest in the use of alternative payment models to incentivise greater efficiency, quality, and accessibility of healthcare services. But what alternative models are available?

Alternative models of payment

Related: Non-clinical AI models pose healthcare opportunity in the Middle East

One of the major alternative payment models is the value-based care model. The model focuses on the value of the care provided, rather than the volume of services delivered. It is designed to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare by incentivising providers to focus on preventative, rather than reactive medicine that promotes healthier lifestyles and tackles the causes of chronic illness.

In a value-based care model, providers are typically paid a set fee for each patient. This fee is based on the expected costs and outcomes of the care provided, with the value of the care determined by measuring health outcomes against the cost of delivering them.

The model is being increasingly adopted by insurance companies and healthcare providers to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare while limiting costs. However, adoption is limited by the need for robust data analytics capabilities to track and measure outcomes and costs.

Another alternative payment model is the direct primary care model, in which patients pay a monthly or annual fee to a primary care provider for access to a range of healthcare services. This model aims to reduce costs by eliminating the need for insurance and lowering administrative overheads. It also aims to improve the quality of care by allowing primary care providers to spend more time with their patients and develop long-term relationships.

The role of telemedicine

Telemedicine is another area in which alternative payment models are gaining traction. With the increasing use of technology, patients can access healthcare services remotely through videoconferencing or other virtual methods. This can improve access to care for those living in rural or underserved areas and reduce the need for in-person visits.

Telemedicine payment models often involve a flat fee or subscription-based model, rather than the traditional fee-for-service model.

In a subscription-based model, the patient pays a flat fee for access to telemedicine services for a specific period. This model is like a gym membership, where the patient pays a monthly fee to have access to telemedicine services as needed.

Ultimately, these alternative models are designed to incentivise higher quality healthcare by tying healthcare payments to outcomes, rather than the volume of care. By adopting these models, doctors and healthcare providers will be rewarded for helping patients improve their health, reduce the effects and incidence of chronic disease, and ultimately live healthier lives.

Healthcare providers around the world should look closely at these payment models as a solution to spiralling healthcare costs.

Medical education has evolved over the years and now equips a new generation of future doctors and healthcare professionals who can practice globally. In this changing scenario, the importance of medical schools providing international, quality training for students to become primary care doctors is more important than ever.

According to Professor Hossam Hamdy, Chancellor, Gulf Medical University in Ajman, the UAE has made great strides in widening access to quality health education aimed at advancing healthcare and expanding higher education, in addition to the presence of a strong infrastructure for privatisation and business development. “Students in the UAE have largely benefitted as the teaching focuses on multi-disciplinary subjects to a multinational audience,” he said.

Related: Nursing education in the UAE opens career pathways for young students

Corrine Vish, Director of Admissions, International at St. George's University, said that a global perspective of medical education in international medical schools has exposed students to prevalent health concerns in other cultures, compared to obtaining an understanding of local health concerns only.

“This refines their medical skills and gives them the benefit of being able to continue their career around the world, equipped with the skillset to address industry gaps and challenges, as and when required.

Related: Africa Health awards research grants to PhD students

International medical institutions are responsible for exposing pupils to faculty and peers from different backgrounds. This diversity helps to shape the cognition of the students, in addition to enhancing their interpersonal skills. It prepares aspiring doctors to face the challenges of the real world, no matter the region they are from, or live in,” said Vish.

Prof. Hamdy said that GMU has been witnessing an increase in demand year-on-year for new, diversified programmes. With student diversity from 90 countries, and new nationalities being added every year, the university offers greater diversity that enriches the overall learning experience and quality.

“Students have the opportunity to clinically train themselves at Thumbay network’s academic hospitals daycare, labs, pharmacies and clinics. Hence, GMU trains 20 per cent of the doctors and approximately 60 per cent of the healthcare professionals in the UAE,” he added.

According to Vish, getting into medical school in the US has always been a popular, and highly competitive process, especially for international students. Recent data suggests that the number of med school applicants is reaching an all-time high. The acceptance rates of US medical schools range from anywhere between 20 per cent to just under three per cent.

She further added: “We find that students who attend St. George’s University are looking for dynamic training that can equip them for a range of different post-graduate training options. The data speaks for itself. According to FSMB physician licensure data, 2021, St. George’s University is the largest source of physicians licensed in the US — more than any other medical school in the world.

“Similarly, the ability to complete clinical rotations (the final two years of the MD Program) in the US and UK at over 75 hospital and health centres is of great interest to students as it allows them to think about where they want to practice medicine, and how to train there.”

When choosing a university, students should keep in mind that the teaching of health professions’ curriculum responds to the changing understandings of the term global health, according to Prof. Hamdy.

“When making a decision to enrol, they should check that the health professions education provider is adept in practicing training from the perspective of more disciplines than just medicine to reflect the social and economic causes of ill health. They should also watch out for how well the institution is adapting international collaborations and sharing resources; how they are enhancing the learning experience of students to effectively impart professional training, etc.”

For example, AI and virtual reality-based technologies are now being greatly emphasised to equip professionals with futuristic skills and e-learning methodologies are on the rise too.

Medical school is expensive, but so are many of the other major purchases a person will make throughout their life, according to Vish.

“While it is understandable that you want to keep your financial burden to a minimum, limiting yourself to the cheapest medical schools could be a mistake. Medical education is incredibly demanding. It is important to attend an institution that is fully equipped to help you succeed, and that might not always line up with the lowest tuition rates. Some programmes have slightly higher tuition rates due to taking extra measures that ensure student success,” she explained.

She also said that partial-tuition bursary awards are available to eligible non-US citizen/permanent residents who demonstrate financial need and can fund the balance of their education beyond the bursary award. Scholarships for all courses in GMU are based on the merit criteria and admission policy of the university.

“Being a doctor is a career that requires a lifetime commitment. Doctors have the passion to help people but are also problem-solvers. These qualities are developed to a large extent during their educational years and educational institutions play a significant role in nurturing these qualities,” she added.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE have made significant economic progress in recent decades. However, this progress has brought with it an increase in lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

These diseases are caused, in part, by unhealthy behaviours such as a lack of physical activity and poor dietary choices, caused by rapidly changing lifestyles and the growth of sedentary, office-based work. Many observers regard the rise of lifestyle diseases as an inevitable consequence of the region’s rapid economic and social transformation.

The economic burden of lifestyle diseases

Related: Economic challenges for hospital laboratories

Lifestyle diseases place a significant burden on the health and well-being of the population in the GCC states. These diseases are responsible for premature deaths and can lead to a host of other serious health problems. Consequently, they are a major contributor to the rising cost of healthcare in the region.

The prevalence of these diseases has increased markedly in recent years. In Saudi Arabia alone, the rate of diabetes has increased by 99 per cent, rising from 1.4 million cases in 2009 to 2.7 million in 2019.

Related: Impact of Insurance on Healthcare Economics

The cost is not just measured in health outcomes — lifestyle disease also poses a major economic threat to the GCC economies. The impact of obesity reportedly costs an annual total of US$3.8 billion in Saudi Arabia, equal to 4.3 per cent of total national health expenditure. In addition, obesity-related absenteeism costs a total of US$15.5 billion, equal to around 0.9 per cent of GDP.

The cause, at least, is clear. Approximately 65 to 70 per cent of food and drink sold in Saudi Arabia are either processed or ultra-processed, contributing around 17 to 20 per cent of caloric intake in Saudi Arabia. In addition, almost 70 per cent of the population aged 15 years and older fail to meet standard global physical activity guidelines.

Strategies and solutions

So, what is the solution? To address the growing threat of lifestyle disease, the GCC states need to focus on preventing and combating lifestyle diseases.

One major strategy is to promote healthy behaviour, such as implementing policy programmes and educational campaigns that encourage physical activity and reduce dietary dependence on processed foods.

Government should also work to improve access to high-quality healthcare services, particularly for those at high risk for developing lifestyle diseases. This can include providing access to preventive care services, such as screenings for diabetes and hypertension, and improving the availability of treatments for those who have already developed these diseases.

Other strategies include imposing taxes on unhealthy foods and beverages or creating incentives for companies to promote healthy lifestyles for their employees, something that is particularly important for sedentary, office-based work.

The economic imperative for the GCC states to prioritise the prevention and treatment of lifestyle diseases is clear. By promoting healthy behaviours, improving access to quality healthcare, and implementing policies that support healthy lifestyles, the GCC states can effectively combat these diseases.

There has never been a greater need for multidisciplinary research to address today's complex health and environmental concerns. The One Health (OH) approach ensures that human, animal, and environmental health concerns are addressed in an integrated and holistic manner, providing a more comprehensive awareness of the issue and potential solutions that would be attainable with segmented approaches.

The One Health strategy is best demonstrated by the global health issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The method is described as a cooperative effort among several professions to produce solutions for issues relating to the health of people, animals, and the environment. AMR is connected to each of these three elements because antimicrobials are being used carelessly and excessively in many areas (agriculture, cattle raising, and human medicine). Under the influence of antimicrobial selection, bacteria acquire resistance genes and mobile genetic elements that can transfer to other bacteria of the same or different genus.

Related: New point-of-care management tool to combat antimicrobial resistance

When bacteria develop antibiotic resistance, they gain a stronger ability to proliferate in animals, people, and the natural world. The misuse of antibiotics, inadequate infection control, agricultural waste, environmental contaminants, and the movement of people and animals carrying resistant bacteria are all factors in the emergence of resistance.

As AMR is a complex issue, it requires a multidisciplinary approach to frame it within the One Health approach. It is especially concerning to see how multidrug-resistant bacteria are spreading around the world and causing diseases that cannot be treated with current antimicrobials.

Related: Current Topics and Challenges in Antimicrobial Resistance

The World Health Organization (WHO) listed 32 antimicrobials under hospital development in 2019, with only six termed innovative. Antimicrobial resistance is taking a toll on global health systems. Antimicrobial-resistant microorganism infections are currently challenging to treat since antimicrobials are becoming increasingly ineffective against these infections, resulting in greater mortality rates. To manage infections caused by major pathogens outlined by WHO, new antimicrobials are required.

However, future antimicrobials will suffer the same fate as the current antimicrobials and become useless unless the current technique of using antimicrobials is changed. Antimicrobials are significant in animal production for a variety of reasons (therapeutic, prophylactic, and development boosters).

Animals, including farm animals, farmed fish in aquaculture systems, bees, and pets, use antibiotics for a variety of purposes.

Animals are thought to utilise more antimicrobials than people do on a yearly basis. Animals should be treated with the majority of antibiotic classes used to treat humans, including quinolones and broad-spectrum beta-lactams, which are essential for treating humans.

Tetracycline, triazoles, and streptomycin are a few antimicrobials that are used to treat both people and animals as well as plants. AMR can easily spread between ecosystems, populations, and populations; resistant zoonotic bacteria can be found in soil and can then infect plants, vegetables, and fruits. The transmission of fungi that are resistant to antibiotics from the environment to people has been related to antimicrobial use in agriculture.

Supporting a "One Health" strategy is crucial to combating AMR (human, animal, plant, and environmental health).

This necessitates accelerating global development, inventing for the future, partnering for more effective action, investing in long-term solutions, and enhancing global governance and accountability. Most types of antibiotics are accessible for use in humans and animals. Antimicrobial resistance can be reduced by using antimicrobials only for treatment, rarely for prophylaxis, and never as growth promoters.

Success will necessitate tight and effective control of the types and quantities of antimicrobials used in medical practice, as well as monitoring and regulating the spread of resistant bacteria into the environment.

As this year draws to a close, there is panic once again with a spike in COVID-19 cases. The concern currently originates from the highly transmissible Omicron subvariants — XBB, BQ.1, and the latest BF.7.

The year started with a peak observed in January 2022. However, post that, there was a 90 per cent decline in the number of reported weekly deaths, as per World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The tides seem to be reversing now with rising apprehensions over the current situation among healthcare providers and the community at large.

A closer look at the current Omicron variants of concern

The coronavirus mutates as it survives in nature. In this process, it creates its lineages and sub-lineages as its branches. Currently, it is the XBB, BQ.1, and the latest BF.7 that are gaining the spotlight.

XBB: Reported with a global prevalence of 1.3 per cent, with infection detected in about 35 countries, XBB is a recombinant of BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 Omicron sub-lineages.
There is only early evidence of its severity and infection risk levels to guide specific activity from healthcare providers or investors. However, current data suggests that it is not particularly severe, as the healthcare ecosystem has witnessed with Omicron already. It is mainly impacting those individuals who were infected in the pre-Omicron period.

BQ.1: This variant is reported to have a global prevalence of 6 percent, with infections detected in about sixty-five countries. It is one of the faster-growing variants and requires close monitoring, However, even for BQ.1, there's no increased severity in the disease noted so far.

BF.7: This is the newer sub-lineage of the Omicron sub-lineage BA.5. Rising cases of its infection are noted in Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, Brazil, and the United States of America. Currently, it is causing more infections among the elderly with low immunity or prevailing health conditions and children for whom healthcare providers need to be more alert.

For all these subvariants, the transmission mode, signs, and symptoms overlap with the previous Covid variants. Common manifestations of the infection continue to include fever, sore throat, cough, body aches, fatigue, and headache.

Does the community need to worry?

As per the WHO, there may be reduced protection offered by vaccines. So, in terms of risks of the disease spreading, it does require being on guard by the masses.

However, there is respite in knowing that no epidemiologic data currently suggests an increase in disease severity. Moreover, the treatment for these subvariants resembles the already-followed treatment for Omicron.

The next steps remain unaltered

At this time, the next step advised by healthcare providers is simply following the safety precautions with sincerity. This includes ensuring the administration of timely vaccinations and booster doses. Healthcare providers are advising this, especially for those travelling.

Whenever in a crowd - indoors and outdoors, all individuals are requested to ensure the use of masks and practice strict social distancing. In addition, in case of any flu-like symptoms or illness, it's best to isolate and get tested to contain its spread.

Reference available on request.

---

Kinzal Jalan is an experienced B2B content marketer with demonstrated expertise in Health, SaaS & Technology.

Healthcare equity refers to fair and equal access to quality healthcare. In recent years it has become a critical global issue for the healthcare community, generating increasing attention from the likes of the World Health Organisation.

However, despite advances in healthcare, there are still significant disparities in access and outcomes for different populations, particularly for marginalised and underserved groups.

The healthcare industry has a key role to play in addressing these inequalities and ensuring that everyone can achieve equitable healthcare outcomes. However, achieving healthcare equity is a complex challenge that requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach.

Removing barriers to health equity

One major barrier to healthcare equity is the high cost of healthcare, which can disproportionately impact low-income and uninsured individuals. This can lead to financial barriers to care and result in delays in seeking treatment, which can ultimately lead to worse health outcomes.

This is a particular problem in nations with high levels of income equality, or with a stark urban–rural economic divide, such as in the United States, where 80 per cent of rural Americans were identified in 2019 as medically underserved.

In addition, institutional biases and social attitudes can also contribute to healthcare inequities, with certain groups facing discrimination and barriers to care due to their race, ethnicity, gender, or other factors.

For example, in many regions, women have historically faced unequal access to healthcare due to discrimination, cultural biases, and economic barriers. This has often resulted in women receiving lower quality healthcare and experiencing worse health outcomes compared to men; it has also affected attitudes towards reproductive health, resulting in serious health complications during pregnancy.

Predictably, the World Bank’s 2012 World Development Report confirmed that women in developing nations experience greater mortality rates than men in developing nations.

A particular factor contributing to unequal access to healthcare for women is that many women in marginalised communities simply cannot afford the cost of healthcare due to lower wages and lack of insurance coverage.

Addressing the challenges

Addressing these challenges requires implementing policies and initiatives that increase access to affordable and high-quality healthcare. This can include measures such as expanding insurance coverage, implementing price transparency initiatives, and addressing structural and institutional biases within the healthcare system.

In addition, addressing social determinants of health, such as poverty, education, and housing, can also play a crucial role in improving healthcare equity. This might include:

• providing low-cost services to those living in low-income households

• using mobile health screenings for those without access to transportation

• offering late-night health appointments to those who work long hours

• providing better education, testing, and treatment access to communities particularly impacted by certain conditions or diseases.

Ultimately, achieving healthcare equity requires a collective effort from all sectors, including healthcare providers and governments. By addressing these challenges, the healthcare industry can help reduce healthcare inequity among different regions and communities.

It has been 12 years since China’s health system reforms began. Some moves have greatly changed the landscape of the healthcare sector. Going into 2022, the Chinese government continues to invest in its health systems.

Government loans encourage hospitals to upgrade medical equipment

In September 2022, the State Council (the executive body of China’s highest state authority) announced a loan incentive policy of CNY1.70 trillion (US$246.40 billion) as part of its economic stimulus package. The package is designed to upgrade and renovate equipment in public buildings, universities, and medical facilities. Around CNY200 billion (US$29 billion) of the total package was earmarked for medical facilities.

Related: China healthcare tech insight: trends, risks, and opportunities

Chinese hospitals are encouraged to upgrade their medical equipment through discounted loans, for which they pay an interest rate of only 0.7 per cent within two years. The country’s zero-COVID policy since 2020 has hampered hospitals’ daily business. Patient visits and surgical procedures have reduced massively (compared with 2019, patient visits declined by 11.2 per cent in 2020 and are estimated to decline by 30 per cent in 2022). This low-interest rate would significantly save purchase costs for cash-strapped hospitals, particularly private and small public hospitals.

The loan incentive policy was applauded by medical device makers, as major beneficiaries of the government initiative. According to GE Healthcare, the initiative propels China’s medical device market. Mindray, China’s top medtech company, estimates that CNY20.0 billion (US$2.9 billion) of its sales revenue will stem from loans incentivised by government subsidies.

Investments in county-level hospitals drive upgrades in medical capacity

Related: Medical system reform in China maintains steady pace

Hospitals located in counties are the backbone of China’s health systems, providing healthcare services for more than half of the country’s population. Improving the medical capacity of county hospitals has been a crucial part of China’s health system reforms since 2009.

In May 2022, the State Council released a document laying out guidelines to accelerate infrastructure construction in counties. Upgrading the infrastructure of public medical facilities is a key part of the plan; the government has allocated funds and urged county hospitals to upgrade their equipment.

This move is a continuation of a government project to strengthen county hospitals. In November 2021, the National Health Commission (NHC) released a five-year plan (2021–25) called the “1000-county Project” to enhance the capacity of county hospitals. The 1000-county Project is designed to address the lack of healthcare resources in counties and to better meet the medical needs of people in less-developed areas.

In April 2022, the NHC released the first list of 1,233 county hospitals for facility investment. According to the plan, these hospitals will be upgraded to grade-three hospitals by 2025 (grade three ranks at the top of China’s three-level hospital grading system, representing the highest criteria of equipment and medical capacity).

According to NHC, there are 17,294 hospitals located in counties across China. Upgrading medical facilities in counties will significantly boost the country’s medical device market.

Intensive care unit capacity expands in response to COVID-19 case surge

In early December 2022, the Chinese government announced a major easing of its zero-COVID policy. COVID-19 cases grew rapidly after the abrupt loosening of pandemic-related restrictions. As a result, under-resourced hospitals have faced big challenges with the surge of COVID-19 patients. One of the restraints in China’s health system is the insufficient capacity of ICUs. According to the NHC, China has 3.6 ICU beds per 100,000 people, compared with 33.9 beds in Germany and an average of 12 in selected 22 OECD countries.

In response to the Covid cases outbreak, the NHC urged hospitals that treat COVID-19 patients to upgrade 10 per cent of their hospital beds to ICU beds. The demand for ICU-related medical devices, such as ventilators, life monitors, infusion pumps, and defibrillators is expected to surge amid the wide COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in China.

Medical infrastructure construction moves ahead apace

Improving access to healthcare is a key objective of China’s 14th Healthcare Five-Year Plan (2021–25). Guided by the plan, China has significantly increased its investment in medical facilities. The 14th Healthcare Five-Year Plan sets targets to strengthen infectious disease prevention and control, build state-level and regional-level medical centres, and stipulate that public hospitals upgrade facilities and expand their premises.

This initiative continued in 2022. According to the National Statistics Bureau, from January to June 2022, cumulative investments in the health sector’s fixed assets increased by 34.5 per cent on a year-on-year (YoY) basis. This growth is also fueled by the government funds allocated to public health in 2022, amounting to a 33.4 per cent growth over 2021.

Omdia estimates that between 2021 and 2025, the size of China’s healthcare equipment market, driven by medical facility and infrastructure investments, will reach US$600 billion.

Omdia insight

Because of China’s COVID-19 case outbreak and the economic stimulus package, the surging demand for medical devices is boosting the Chinese medical market in the short term. The country’s ageing demographic, rising expectations, and under-resourced health systems are the underlined factors continuously driving China’s medical device market growth.

China’s health spending has been growing at a CAGR of more than 10 per cent between 2017 and 2021. However, its health spending share per GDP is still low, at 6.5 per cent compared with the OECD average of 8.8 per cent. The country’s medical resources (including hospital beds, medical staff, and medical equipment) remain subpar compared to most OECD countries.

Healthcare is a pressing political task for the Chinese government to take care of an ageing population with higher expectations of life quality. Omdia projects the Chinese government will continue to invest in the health sector. Fuelled by economic recovery, growing medical demands, and continued government investments, Omdia estimates the Chinese medical device market will maintain its robust growth rate of nearly 10 per cent into 2025. Healthcare will become an economic driver with growing importance for China.

----

Sally Ye is the Senior Analyst — Healthcare Technology at Omdia.

 

Recent reports have highlighted that obesity affects almost 650 million people worldwide and 120 million in the GCC. One of the significant health concerns linked to obesity is that it leads to many other comorbidities, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and gastrointestinal diseases, among others. Reportedly, by next year, almost 80 per cent of premature deaths in the UAE will occur due to conditions associated with obesity. Furthermore, obesity reportedly reduces life expectancy by around 25 per cent and leads to many mental health issues.

Some classic approaches to combat obesity include following yo-yo diets, hitting the gym, undergoing bariatric surgery, which can be quite risky, or taking pills. However, all these are usually done in isolation and without holistic guidance. In fact, a lot of them are also not scientifically supported. Therefore, people end up harming their health even more.

To tackle this epidemic, WEMA Health, a virtual-first, medicated, end-to-end obesity program, was recently launched in the UAE. The app was first launched in Denmark, where it has seen success and has helped members lose up to 20 per cent of their body weight.

In an interview, Leyla Azizova, Co-Founder and Head of MENA at WEMA Health, shared: "We are combining several different approaches in our virtual clinic. Our dedicated endocrinologists treat obesity like a disease with the proper medical assessment and with medication. The second aspect is that we provide personal coaching to help members address their lifestyle, eating habits, emotional health, stress levels, and sleeping patterns. Lastly, we have an application which tracks the health of the patient. Members can also speak with their doctors and coaches through the app."

Co-developed with the obesity scientists Prof. Filip K. Knop and Dr Rita Nawar, WEMA Health connects its users with endocrine specialists on the app, with a focus on diet, exercise and psycho-social support. It also makes available to members the modern and clinically documented weight loss medicine, GLP-1, which is prescribed in tandem with professional and personalised cognitive behavioural coaching, empowering members to make lasting lifestyle changes.

When asked if GLP-1 has any side effects, Azizova stressed that research has confirmed that it is one of the safest and most effective medications, especially when combined with lifestyle interventions. "Initially, people might feel slight discomfort as the medicines start to make them feel fuller. But the body adjusts, and there are no other side effects," she added. "Our members have also found energy levels start to improve since being on the programme."

As for the results, she explained that most people see weight loss immediately. "One of our members lost 13 kilos in three months. At the six-month mark, the intensity of the weight loss reduces a bit; you still lose weight, but it's not at that speed anymore. Therefore, it is recommended to be on the programme for nine to 12 months," she said.

In terms of the future, Azizova said that WEMA Health would be looking into partnering with diabetes centres or with primary care facilities in the UAE and are already in conversation with some providers.

References available on request

Back to Clinical

Technology within healthcare is evolving by the day with solutions aiming to surpass benchmarks and enhancing the experience of stakeholders with options that allow them to discover innovations and applications is becoming a new way to drive purchasing decisions for healthcare management professionals.

Omnia Health embarked on a ‘virtual tour solution’ to explore Zebra Technologies’ latest addition in its experience centre — a dedicated suite that gives customers and partners an intimate look into the newest hardware and software disrupting healthcare.

ENHANCED TRACKING VISIBILITY

First up from their line of software solutions is Zebra Motion-Works. Using RFID technology, the software can track assets such as people, equipment, and other components in environments such as hospitals or manufacturing plants. Assets can also track live using battery-powered RFID tags that constantly send out signals. So, in a hospital environment, that means anyone or anything — from a high-risk patient with an RFID wristband to beds or equipment — can be tracked. This gives hospitals live visibility on inventory.

“Smartphone apps use tracking; however, this is limited to the extent of discovering a person’s location. Motion Works is a superior software that provides context all the way down to historical data, and tracks the routes a patient takes as well as the areas they gather in. Presently we are working very closely with hospitals to understand which areas within the hospital infections are most rampantly transmitted in, and how can we manage and reduce those in the future,” says Wayne Miller, Director, EMEA Healthcare Practice, Zebra Technologies.

RAISING MANUFACTURING STANDARDS

Machine Vision is one of Zebra Technologies’ solutions in its manufacturing verticals, where AI-trained cameras can identify missing components during manufacturing and reject a product from the conveyor belt for an individual to either repair it or completely remove it from the order. The camera can also be programmed to check food groups in a hospital to recognise excess waste and adjust it accordingly.

“In pharmaceutical manufacturing, blister packs could pass under the camera and help us spot a drug in every single part of that blister pack or dose. If the camera and software are set-up correctly, it can also distinguish between different types of drugs,” explained Miller. Adding to efficiency, machine learning and RFID are used to check the pack to ensure everything is present. If not, it creates an error for an individual to resolve. “Several hospitals experienced a backlog in elective surgery with the average hospital cycle surgical trays being used about once a week. Considering an average 1,000-bed hospital requires 10,000 trays, which is a very tall order, Machine Vision is a perfect solution for that,” he added.

Thomas Duparque, Healthcare Business Development Manager — EMEA, said that Zebra is currently working on an application in France to have meals appropriately administered in the hospital room.

“You can scan the barcode of the meal for the patient and add it to their daily chart. This solution can be used in several ways, for example, to ensure that the quantity of food consumed by the patient is correct, and to prepare a detailed report on the patient’s eating habits after scanning meals before and after,” said Duparque.

Miller added: “Machine vision has been around for several years, and software is becoming more intelligent. I believe we are going to see more and more applications taken up by hospitals.”

HARMONY IN AUTOMATION

The tour took an interesting turn with robotics in the frame, as Miller explained their important role in a hospital environment. “Generally-speaking, hospitals are large facilities and almost operate like a city. They manufacture and distribute drugs; they are part-hotel, part restaurant. Soon, we predict moving inventory around the hospital becoming fully automated. The robots we have in the experience centre can be configured in different ways to pick up and move inventory. They are a perfect fit in a pharmacy, loading a tray, setting out in the ward to dispense the medication to a patient upon scanning their RFID wristband,” he said.

RISE OF CONNECTED HOSPITALS

Eighty-nine per cent of executive decision-makers and 83 per cent of clinicians surveyed in The ‘Smarter, More Connected Hospitals global report, agree real-time intelligence is essential for optimal patient care, and hospitals are increasingly investing in clinical mobility tools, real-time location systems (RTLS) and intelligent workflow solutions to support smarter, more connected workflows. However, more than two-thirds (67 per cent) of hospital executives still do not feel that their organisations are investing enough to maximise staff efficiency, and more must be done moving forward.

This is where Workforce Connect steps in. This is a software application that connects the workforce securely, enabling colleagues to send each other messages, create and assign tasks, send alerts and make emergency calls. If the device with the application is dropped, it will notify those in the vicinity through an alert for support.

“As we see more smart devices deployed, there will be solutions that look at the maintenance of those smart devices,” Miller concluded.