The healthcare industry is experiencing technology transformation, which is driven by changing patient behaviour and the demand for improved patient experience. The patients or the healthcare consumers are becoming increasingly independent, connected, and aware of their health and well-being. There is also a growing expectation for high-quality healthcare at an affordable cost. A consumer or patient today demands care delivery from anywhere and is more engaged in making health-related decisions. This evolving patient behaviour is driving healthcare consumerism.

Patient-centric innovations improve patient experience and care outcomes

Healthcare consumerism is driving patient-centric innovations and healthcare technology developers are focusing on innovations such as user-friendly devices with improved patient experiences. These products prioritise patient value and care outcomes.

Medical device innovations are focused on improving patient comfort through their patient-friendly, non-invasive device design, without compromising on the efficacy and accuracy of the device. Patient monitoring devices are becoming less intrusive and more comfortable on the body. For example, glucose monitoring that traditionally involves a painful finger prick test is now becoming more comfortable using non-invasive glucose monitoring sensors. This makes diabetes management simpler. Another example of user-friendly design revolutionising time-consuming dialysis is the transformation of a traditional bulky bedside dialysis machine into a wearable, miniaturised dialysis machine giving patients mobility and comfort. The medical imaging industry is also following the same trend, for example, enterprise-based bulky ultrasound machines are getting replaced by wearable ultrasound scanning devices enabling remote diagnosis and screening. Recent medical imaging innovations are mobile and easy to use, making it comfortable and convenient for patients.

Healthcare service providers are also embracing patient-centric models improving care outcomes and engagement. The patient or healthcare-consumer-centric model focuses on trust and collaboration between patients and healthcare providers. Value-based care is one of the pivotal ways to achieve patient-centric care. Digital transformation is critical to speed up the implementation of value-based care.

Digital technologies can help hospitals make operational as well as clinical decisions faster and more accurate. Beyond appointment scheduling or bill payment, analytics technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning can improve clinical decision-making, and even help tailor interventions based on individual genetic profiles. In Saudi Arabia, digital health start-ups such as ClinicY, Nuacare are helping to improve care delivery and patient experience in hospitals.

The Saudi Arabian Vision 2030 puts a strong emphasis on patient-centric care. Currently, Saudi Arabia's health ministry is working on SEHA Virtual Hospital (SVH) project, which aims to seamlessly connect patients with doctors using digital technologies such as AI and augmented reality. The region is witnessing several collaborations to integrate digital patient-centric care for healthcare enterprises. For example, A South Korea-based AI medical image analysis company is collaborating with SVH to offer its AI-enabled chest X-ray and breast cancer image analysis solution. Similarly, Fujifilm Middle East is collaborating with Almana Group of Hospitals to integrate its digital imaging services.

Digital tools driving patient engagement

Digital technologies for improved patient engagement are not just disrupting healthcare enterprises, but MedTech and pharma companies as well. Each stakeholder is focused on improving value for care, transparency, and convenience to the consumers/patients. Digital tools help improve patient engagement and communication between patients/consumers and healthcare providers.

Large pharma and consumer health companies such as Bayer Consumer Health Division are focusing on new digitally enabled precision health consumer products to improve disease monitoring, awareness, and healthcare personalisation. Its collaboration with the AI-based symptom assessment company, Ada Health helps patients understand their symptoms better. Other examples include Roche Pharma India, which provides The Blue Tree 2.0 mobile app for cancer, haemophilia, and rare disease patients to improve their accessibility to various patient support services such as diagnostic support, drug assistance, expert consultations, and counselling services.

In the medtech field, there are similar examples, such as drug delivery company Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) which offers insulin containers and syringes, is also providing BD™ Diabetes Care App which is a digital diabetes management platform for patients. This combination of mobile apps with insulin dosing provides holistic care to diabetes patients guiding them through nutrition, physical activity, insulin doses, etc.

Innovations improving care accessibility

Over the last few years, there has been a growth of various point-of-care diagnostics and self-diagnosing devices to monitor an individual health pattern such as wearables trackers, self-testing devices, and health and wellness monitoring mobile apps. This is primarily due to the growing prevalence of chronic illness globally, as well as rising disease awareness amongst individuals. These self-monitoring or point-of-care diagnostic devices help in detecting early warning signs of a disease, manage chronic conditions and overall improve the well-being of the patient or consumer.

Innovations in these point-of-care diagnostics are focused on patient comfort and accessibility. They overcome challenges such as long waiting times for results. There are innovations in wearables that enable sweat and interstitial fluid analysis through skin-interfaced flexible microfluidic systems, allowing continuous sampling of the alternate biofluids for real-time and continuous monitoring of healthcare parameters.

There are also microelectronics and sensors-based skin patches or wearables for comfortable health monitoring. A Dubai-based digital health company - Meta[bolic] is partnering with a Finnish health technology company called Oura Health Oy to offer its smart wearable- Oura ring, which can analyse a range of health metrics providing valuable insights for managing chronic metabolic conditions such as diabetes, pre-diabetes or obesity. Medical technology innovations have made it easier for patients to monitor ECG at home, detect mental health or sleep disorders, or diagnose chronic kidney disease at home.

Smartphone-based diagnostics provide low-cost, rapid, and handy self-diagnosis. According to the statistics from Statista, the smartphone penetration rates in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are among the world’s highest in the world.  The government is prioritising expenditure on digital technologies, thereby improving the digital lifestyle of its citizens. This creates a huge growth opportunity for digital care services in this region. The mobile apps for telemedicine such as Cura Healthcare, My Clinic KSA, and Seha app are some Middle East-based digital health companies. Beyond teleconsultation, online pharmacy, home diagnostics, and wellness mobile applications are rising in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates market. By improving diagnostic accessibility and by providing information about disease and symptoms, patients and consumers are empowered to make informed decisions about their lifestyle choices, treatment options as well as providers.

Challenges and future outlook

The focus of the healthcare industry has shifted from a reactive, provider-centric, one-size-fits-all care model to a more proactive, patient or consumer-centric, personalised model, and this changing healthcare trend has brought in several patient-centric innovations. Digital technology provides improved value for care by lowering administrative costs, enabling fast decision-making, and saving time and resources. However, the costs of infrastructure for enterprise-level digital transformation, or the cost of a few point-of-care diagnostics or imaging devices are high, and high costs can limit the degree of adoption. Moreover, the poor digital literacy amongst the healthcare staff and even elderly patients remains a challenge. Currently, the lack of skilled professionals hinders the adoption of newer technologies in the healthcare sector. Healthcare enterprises must train their staff and make the digital interface user-friendly and easy to use. This will truly help in digital transformation.

Healthcare consumerism and digital transformation give rise to the growth opportunity of precision and preventative care. Analysing multimodal data from omics, clinical data, and electronic health records can help provide precision care to patients. This improves screening, and monitoring, and enables personalised treatment decisions.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every year 74 per cent of global deaths are due to non-communicable chronic diseases. With the escalating costs and growing disease burden on healthcare systems associated with chronic diseases such as diabetes or hypertension, proactive disease management will be essential to control mortality and its high prevalence. The use of direct-to-consumer genetic tests, screening programs, and monitoring predictive biomarkers can determine the risk of developing a disease and individuals can take necessary interventions. Innovations in wellness mobile applications offering behavioural change using engaging gamification or virtual/augmented reality to promote good health practices will also be critical for preventative care.

Active partnership between the government, technology developers, and healthcare providers is essential to offer a collaborative ecosystem that supports healthcare consumerism. Besides adopting patient-centric innovations, empowering and educating the consumers, and improving digital health adoption will also be essential for consumerism of healthcare.

Debarati Sengupta is the Senior Industry Analyst/Team Lead (Medical Device and Imaging) at TechVision, Frost & Sullivan.

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Researchers at Mayo Clinic are using technology to produce tissue models of different body parts to study damaged or diseased tissues and organs. They envision a day when a 3D bioprinter could mould living cells into a therapy or cure for complex disorders.

“3D bioprinters are just like the 3D printers that print small plastic toys or parts. Instead of using hard plastics or metals to construct a part or prototype, 3D bioprinters use biocompatible materials containing living cells to print three-dimensional structures of tissue that could be used to improve human health,” says Kevin Dicker, PhD, a bioprinting expert and a process development staff scientist for the Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics in Arizona. “Bioprinters are tools to accelerate research in the field of tissue engineering.”

3D bioprinting intrigues researchers for its potential to study disease progression and screen new treatments for conditions such as end-stage organ failure, cartilage defects and atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema. Dr. Dicker and team are working to establish standard operating procedures for biomanufacturing tissue for testing in early-stage clinical trials. This pioneering work is aimed at integrating tissue engineering into therapies that could be studied in clinical trials.

The 3D bioprinter uses a digital blueprint of a design from medical imaging, such as MRI or CT scans. This powerful, high-tech tool precisely places bioinks composed of living cells, hydrogels, biomaterials and growth factors, in a layer-by-layer fashion. The final 3D tissue model can mimic the structure, mechanics and physiology of human organs, muscle or cartilage.

Complex tissue structures that come from the 3D bioprinter have allowed researchers to study ways to bioprint human organs. Mayo Clinic has developed the capability of bioprinting skin to mimic inflammatory skin disease. This bioprinted skin model is being studied in the lab of Saranya Wyles, MD, PhD, to test treatments and understand disease progression for conditions such as atopic dermatitis (eczema).

Besides its use for disease models, this emerging technology is being explored for manufacturing human tissue and organs.

“The ultimate goal is to someday be able to print organs and tissue on demand. However, we aren’t quite there yet,” Dr. Dicker says. “We hope to advance this technology as a solution to the global shortage of donor organs. If we can bioprint functional kidneys, for example, that would be a huge relief on the healthcare system.”

In Arizona, the research team of David Lott, MD, is developing 3D bioprinted implants for the larynx or trachea. The implants could be used to replace damaged or diseased portions of the organ while maintaining healthy tissue.

While 3D bioprinting holds a high potential, Mayo Clinic and other research institutions still have challenges to overcome. For a bioprinted organ to work, it must have a connection to blood, oxygen and nutrients. Researchers have struggled to grow a network of capillaries and blood vessels in the bioprinted structures at scale that would deliver those vital elements. Another challenge is how to integrate the bioprinted tissues with the human body while preventing rejection of the implant.

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The healthcare landscape in the Middle East is transforming, driven by ambitious government initiatives such as futuristic visions for personalised healthcare, the urge for high standards of care delivery and significant investments in digital innovation. At the heart of this transformation is the application of artificial intelligence (AI), revolutionising healthcare delivery and patient outcomes, privatisation, and administrative efficiency.

Navigating the revolution with strategic policy and innovation

Recent shifts in public policy across the Middle East have significantly fuelled the rapid growth of the health tech sector, underlining a deep-rooted commitment to personalising and preventive care. Visionary undertakings, such as Saudi Arabia's NEOM and the Dubai Health Authority's Genome Program, have marked the region's ambitious move toward embracing AI in healthcare.

Supported by predictive analytics and big data, these initiatives are steering healthcare towards models that are increasingly predictive, preventive and personalised, ushering in a new era of patient-centric care. Complementing these efforts, strategic policy frameworks such as the UAE's National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 are pivotal in propelling the region towards becoming a leader in AI integration.

These strategies aim to bolster the use of AI in enhancing predictive healthcare and personalised medicine, showcasing government support for innovation. It also sets a clear direction for the integration of advanced technologies in healthcare infrastructure, development and implementation.

Together, these policy shifts and visionary projects are essential enablers, setting the stage for a transformative leap in healthcare delivery across the region.

AI at the forefront of improving patient outcomes

The integration of AI technologies, including predictive healthcare analytics and personalised medicine, is revolutionising patient care standards across the Middle East.

For example, AppliedAI's innovations (a company with regional HQ in Abu Dhabi), such as DeepDoc and Nash, are at the forefront of enhancing administrative efficiency while significantly refining patient diagnostics and treatment processes. DeepDoc, an Intelligent Document Processor, organises and summarises medical documents, enhancing the focus on patient care and professional development. Nash optimises medical coding and revenue, adapting claims to reduce document deficiencies and engage physicians for necessary information.

These AI-powered tools not only address major operational challenges but also improve billing processes, minimise revenue loss, and enhance the overall efficiency of healthcare administration. By harnessing the power of AI for in-depth data analysis, healthcare professionals can devise customised treatment plans, mitigate the risk of adverse reactions, and markedly improve chronic condition prognoses.

This shift towards AI-driven healthcare is further exemplified by initiatives like the Qatar Genome Program, which highlights the crucial role of genomics and AI in sculpting the future of precision medicine. Such initiatives underscore the potential to dramatically lower healthcare costs through timely interventions and focused treatment strategies. This is particularly critical in areas where specialised services are scarce. The evolution signifies a leap in healthcare delivery, improving patient outcomes and service quality.

AI and innovation have improved patient outcomes in the Middle East. Predictive analytics help identify high-risk patients, reducing hospital readmission rates. AI has also improved diagnostic accuracy and facilitated more effective treatment plans. AI-powered apps and telehealth services have enhanced patient engagement and chronic disease management.

These technological and strategic advancements collectively usher in new patient care standards, showcasing the profound impact of healthcare's digital transformation.

Strategic planning and digital integration by Lexica

Lexica's strategic healthcare planning and advisory services are essential for realising ambitious healthcare transformation projects complementing technological advancements. Its collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation on the Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City project in Qatar highlights how strategic planning coupled with digital innovation can create a sustainable and efficient healthcare system geared for the future.

Lexica's efforts in developing the Design Standards Framework (DSF) for HMC underline the importance of evidence-based design and operational efficiency in healthcare infrastructure, ensuring that new developments align with the highest patient care standards and sustainability.

Bridging technological innovation with strategic vision

The synergy between AI-driven technological solutions and strategic healthcare planning is crucial to navigating the digital healthcare revolution in the Middle East. This collaborative approach enhances operational efficiencies and significantly boosts patient outcomes, providing a roadmap for other regions aiming to leverage technology in healthcare.

As the Middle East continues to push the boundaries of healthcare innovation, the focused integration of AI and strategic planning is setting new benchmarks for patient care and system efficiency in emerging markets.

Looking ahead

The ongoing digital transformation in Middle Eastern healthcare, backed by supportive public policies and strategic initiatives, is a testament to the region's commitment to pioneering a future where healthcare is more accessible, personalised and efficient. By embracing AI and strategic innovation, the Middle East is not just improving healthcare outcomes for its population but also showcasing a model for the world on harnessing technology to meet the challenges of modern healthcare.

Amir Joshan is the Region Director for Middle East Business Development at Lexica.

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Since the landmark "To Err Is Human" report in 1999, patient safety has evolved alongside technological and care advancements in healthcare. Despite significant progress and numerous initiatives aimed at reducing preventable harm, the statistics remain stark: 1 in every 10 patients experiences harm in healthcare, and more than three million deaths occur annually due to unsafe care¹. Importantly, over 50 per cent of these incidents are preventable^2,3.

There has been a growing call for renewed action and transformation around eliminating preventable harm. ECRI and ISMP PSO, along with 26 other organisations, contributed to the National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety, calling for a total systems approach to redesign the complex system in which healthcare is delivered. In late 2023, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology released bold recommendations in the Report to the President calling for a transformational effort on patient safety. As a patient safety organisation, ECRI is committed to supporting healthcare providers in their journey to redesign systems to eliminate preventable harm.

Looking forward, total systems safety emerges as the imperative path for advancing patient safety. This holistic approach integrates system design, human factors engineering, health equity, and advanced safety science to create a robust framework for safety enhancement. However, achieving meaningful and sustainable change demands a fundamental shift in how healthcare environments, systems, and processes are conceptualised and redesigned⁴. It necessitates cross-stakeholder collaboration to effectively address safety challenges.

In its National Action Plan to Achieve Patient Safety, the National Steering Committee for Patient Safety outlines four foundational pillars crucial to achieving total systems safety⁵:

• Cultivating leadership: Establishing governance and cultivating a safety-centric culture.
• Engaging patients and families: Involving them as partners in care design and delivery.
• Fostering a safe environment: Promoting workforce resilience and ensuring a healthy, safe workplace.
• Supporting continuous learning: Sharing and applying lessons learned to enhance safety and quality of care.

ECRI’s annual Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns report is grounded on these four pillars, drawing insights from extensive data analysis conducted in collaboration with ISMP. This report not only identifies pressing patient safety concerns but also proposes strategies for continuous improvement in healthcare. It underscores the pivotal roles of culture, leadership, patient engagement, and workforce safety in driving systemic improvements. ECRI and ISMP’s collective expertise illuminates how systemic factors can either contribute to harm or enhance safety, providing actionable guidance to organisations adopting a Total Systems Safety approach.

In conclusion, the Total Systems Safety approach enables comprehensive system redesign and fosters collaborative engagement across stakeholders. By prioritising leadership commitment, patient partnership, workforce resilience, and continuous learning, healthcare organisations can significantly improve safety outcomes and mitigate risks effectively.

As we navigate the complexities of healthcare delivery, ECRI remains steadfast in supporting stakeholders on their journey towards safer healthcare environments. I strongly encourage healthcare leaders, providers, and policymakers to leverage ECRI's insights and resources to drive continuous improvement and foster a culture of safety across the industry.

References

1. Slawomirski L, Klazinga N. The economics of patient safety: from analysis to action. Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; 2020 (http://www.oecd.org/health/health-systems/Economics-of-Patient-Safety-October-2020.pdf).

2. Panagioti M, Khan K, Keers RN, Abuzour A, Phipps D, Kontopantelis E et al. Prevalence, severity, and nature of preventable patient harm across medical care settings: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2019;366:l4185. doi:10.1136/bmj.l4185.

3. Hodkinson A, Tyler N, Ashcroft DM, Keers RN, Khan K, Phipps D et al. Preventable medication harm across health care settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Med. 2020;18(1):1–3.

4. Kaplan G, Bo-Linn G, Carayon P, Pronovost P, Rouse W, Reid P, Saunders R. Bringing a systems approach to health. Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Engineering. 2013 July 10. https://nam.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/SAHIC-Overview.pdf

5. National Steering Committee for Patient Safety (NSC). Safer together: a national action plan to advance patient safety. Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). 2020. https://www.ihi.org/Engage/Initiatives/National-Steering-Committee-Patient-Safety/Pages/National-Action-Plan-to-Advance-Patient-Safety.aspx

Eric Woo is the Vice President at ECRI Asia Pacific. His colleague Stella Cheong, Senior Consultant, Business Development, ECRI Asia Pacific, Selangor, Malaysia, will be speaking on 'Top 10 patient safety concerns' at the Patient Safety track on July 11 at Medlab Asia and Asia Health.

Sign up here to learn more about Medlab Asia & Asia Health 2024, ASEAN’s premier healthcare events dedicated to thought-provoking medical conferences, business networking and cutting-edge product showcases.

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Boehringer Ingelheim recently announced breakthrough results from a survodutide Phase II trial sub-analysis that demonstrate up to 64.5% of adults with fibrosis stages F2 and F3 (moderate to advanced scarring) achieved an improvement in fibrosis without worsening of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), versus 25.9% with placebo after 48 weeks of treatment [response difference: 38.6% (95% CI 18.1% - 59.1%), p=0.0005]. F2 and F3 patient populations are at increased risk of developing liver-related complications.

The full data results were presented at the European Association for the Study of the Liver Congress (EASL) 2024 and published simultaneously in The New England Journal of Medicine. The secondary endpoint shows that up to 52.3% of adults treated with survodutide (BI 456906) achieved a significant improvement in liver scarring (fibrosis) stages F1, F2 and F3 (mild to moderate or advanced scarring), versus 25.8% with placebo after 48 weeks of treatment [response difference: 26.5% (95% CI 8.37% – 44.66%), p<0.01].

The news follows data announced earlier this year when the trial met its primary endpoint. These results demonstrated that up to 83.0% of adults achieved a statistically significant improvement of MASH versus placebo (18.2%), reinforcing the potential of survodutide as a best-in-class treatment [response difference: 64.8% (95% CI 51.1% – 78.6%), p<0.0001].

Survodutide is a glucagon/GLP-1 receptor dual agonist with a novel mechanism of action, and the first to show this level of fibrosis benefit in a Phase II MASH trial after 48 weeks of treatment. The glucagon agonist component in survodutide has the potential to increase energy expenditure and has a direct impact in the liver, which could contribute to the improvement of fibrosis. The GLP-1 agonist component decreases appetite while increasing fullness and satiety.

“I am particularly excited about the findings of the Phase II trial in survodutide, which demonstrate the potential for glucagon agonism, in addition to GLP-1, to both improve MASH and shift the needle on fibrosis,” said Dr. Arun Sanyal, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Physiology and Molecular Pathology at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, and Principal Investigator of the trial. “These data position survodutide as a leading glucagon/GLP-1 receptor dual agonist that could be a game-changer for people living with MASH and clinically significant fibrosis.”

An improvement was measured as a decrease of at least one stage in fibrosis after 48 weeks of treatment in this trial. Fibrosis is a measurement of the progression of MASH, a progressive disease impacting more than 115 million people worldwide. MASH is caused by inflammation of the liver that can lead to fibrosis and severe tissue scarring (cirrhosis) can substantially increase the risk of end-stage liver disease and liver cancer. A liver transplant may be the only treatment option, which can place significant financial strain on healthcare systems. Liver fibrosis typically worsens slowly, and it is easy to go undetected if the fibrosis is not extensive. The reversal of liver fibrosis is often challenging for advanced stages of scarring and may not be possible for cirrhosis.

In this Phase II trial, survodutide also demonstrated significance versus placebo for all other secondary endpoints after 48 weeks of treatment. Actual treatment results showed that up to 87.0% of adults achieved at least a 30% relative reduction in liver fat versus 19.7% with placebo, as well as a relative reduction in liver fat content of up to 64.3% versus 7.3% with placebo. The absolute change from baseline in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Activity Score (NAS, which is used to measure improvement in MASH) in actual treatment results was up to -3.3 with survodutide versus -0.4 with placebo.

“The breakthrough fibrosis results further reinforce survodutide’s potential as a best-in-class treatment for people living with MASH. We will advance quickly into Phase III trials,” said Carinne Brouillon, Head of Human Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim. “New treatments are urgently needed for MASH, a disease connected with cardiovascular, renal and metabolic conditions like obesity, and we are excited to continue these important discussions with healthcare authorities.”

Survodutide is licensed to Boehringer Ingelheim from Zealand Pharma, with Boehringer solely responsible for development and commercialization globally. Zealand has a co-promotion right in the Nordic countries.

In this trial, survodutide demonstrated safety data consistent with GLP-1 based molecules, with no new safety data concerns. Survodutide was granted U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Fast Track Designation in 2021, and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) granted access to the Priority Medicine (PRIME) Scheme for MASH with fibrosis in November last year.

Survodutide is also being explored in five Phase III studies for people living with overweight and obesity, both of which are associated with MASH. An additional Phase III trial is evaluating if survodutide helps people living with overweight or obesity, with a confirmed or presumed diagnosis of MASH, reduce liver fat and lose weight.

References available on request

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As governments in developing nations are obligated to provide universal health coverage — with the delivery of healthcare made either through the public sector, private sector, or in most cases, through public-private partnership — the healthcare industry has undergone a transformative shift in recent years, moving from a traditional fee-for-service model to one centred around value-based care.

The focus is now on delivering high-quality care that produces favourable patient outcomes while controlling costs by enhancing efficiency. This approach encourages healthcare providers to prioritise preventive care, patient education, and coordination of services to optimise health outcomes.

Healthcare delivery models

Universal health coverage is characterised by four elements — availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability (quality). In terms of 'availability', the World Health Organization (WHO) specifies 3.5 beds and one doctor per 1,000 population, while accessibility means having a healthcare infrastructure located within a reasonable distance and time zone. Quality means that healthcare services are based on standard treatment guidelines and patient safety is an integral part of it.

Quality is supposed to be regulated by enforcing a minimum set of conditions related to healthcare infrastructure including the availability of requisite manpower. The payers specify more stringent conditions like mandating healthcare providers to seek accreditation from authorised agencies. This ensures quality and patient safety and, at same time, safeguards liability on the part of payers.

Value-based payment models are based on evaluating a set of clinical indicators like hospital-acquired infections, adverse events, surgical complications, average length of stay along with patient satisfaction score. Payers provide reimbursement to hospitals based on these indicators, which encourages hospitals to adhere to quality practices. Value-based care accordingly focuses on improving patient outcomes while controlling costs. It simultaneously promotes preventive care, patient engagement, and coordination among healthcare providers to achieve better health results. 

By fostering collaboration and innovation, value-based care aims to enhance overall healthcare quality, efficiency, and patient satisfaction while addressing the broader goals of healthcare sustainability and equity.

Shifting the focus from volume to quality

Value in healthcare is the quality of care, which is measured through improvement in the patient’s health outcomes for the cost of achieving that improvement. It aims to improve clinical experience, patient experience and population health and reduces the cost of care. It enables the healthcare system to create more value for patients. Value-based care is developed by implementing a continuum of care by integrating various aspects of care to leverage the best treatment options for patients, enhancing patient experience by providing treatment in a transparent and cost-effective manner.

It is important to note that the most common factors causing medical errors are communication failures among healthcare professionals and with patients, absence of documented systems and processes, human factors arising out of fatigue and insufficient training and medication errors by way of mistakes in; prescription, dispensing and administering. Quality and patient safety should therefore be uppermost in mind for healthcare providers before going for the volume, as it enables achieving patient-centric care and in the long run even reducing the operational cost through efficiently utilising resources, following standard treatment guidelines, avoiding complications and achieving best patient satisfaction. 

Cost vs quality in the context of healthcare has been debated for a long time. Quality in healthcare may incur ‘costs’ but the absence of quality may ‘cost’ life. There has been marked improvement in health outcomes due to the advent of technology, the availability of super specialists and advances in the science of medicine. The shift from volume-based to value-based healthcare represents a paradigmatic change in how healthcare is delivered and reimbursed. By focusing on quality, outcomes, and patient-centred care, ‘Value-Based Care’ aims to create a healthcare system that is more efficient, effective, and equitable.

Dr Girdhar Gyani is the Director General of the Association of Healthcare Providers, New Delhi, India. He will be speaking about 'Value-based healthcare: Shifting focus from volume to quality and outcomes' at the Hospital Management track at Asia Health on July 10 at 13:30. 

Sign up here to learn more about Medlab Asia & Asia Health 2024, ASEAN’s premier healthcare events dedicated to thought-provoking medical conferences, business networking and cutting-edge product showcases.

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The medical technology industry is always changing to deliver cutting-edge technical solutions that address the demands of patients, healthcare professionals, and the larger medical community. But how does one typically determine whether startups in the field are gaining traction quickly?

A successful medtech startup possesses a number of essential characteristics, including innovative products, scalable solutions, gaining swift market adoption, substantial funding, positive customer feedback, and achieving key regulatory approval round out the key traits of a thriving medtech startup.

Geographic expansion and building a strong team are important indicators of success without negating recognition through awards, a strong intellectual property portfolio, and proven clinical efficacy which further contributes to a startup's growth and credibility. It is noteworthy that the United States is anticipated to generate the highest income when compared globally, with $215.80 billion in sales in 2024. Below are a few among many US-based medtech start-ups on the rise, listed in no particular order:

Clivi

Clivi is transforming diabetes care in Latin America with its digital clinic platform. Founded by an experienced team, Clivi recently secured a $10 million seed round. The company's AI-driven approach to diabetes management has achieved significant results, including a reduction in A1C levels by 2.4 per cent, potentially extending life expectancy by over four years. Clivi aims to serve one million people within the next five years and become the leading diabetes clinic in Mexico within a year.

Carbon

Specialising in virtual care and telehealth services since its founding in 2015, Carbon raised $622.5 million in Series D funding, which is a clear indicator of trust from investors. Patients can schedule same-day appointments for urgent care and primary care on its platform, which also makes prescription medication delivery easier. Furthermore, Carbon Health's "Carbon Health Vaccinate" program helped administer approximately 1.49 million immunizations during the COVID-19 pandemic, which unarguably played a vital role.

Parachute Health

The New York-based business known for its innovative strategy for streamlining the digital ordering process for supplies and durable medical equipment (DME), was founded in 2014 and has raised $15.3 million. Its ePrescribing software offers real-time order progress notifications, expedites delivery, and minimizes paperwork. Serving more than 200,000 clinicians, Parachute Health's platform is extensively utilized and was included in the New York Digital Health 100 in 2023.

Nutrisense

Nutrisense is recognized for its innovative solution in tracking blood sugar levels through a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and mobile app. Founded in 2018 in Chicago and backed by $31.4 million in Series A funding, Nutrisense offers a program that includes a wearable sensor, expert guidance, and health coaching. The company achieved $40.5 million in revenue in 2023 and has 15,000 customers, highlighting its growing influence in personalized health monitoring.

Resolve Medical

This medtech startup stands out for its innovative use of AI to enhance diagnostic accuracy in radiology. Established in 2015, the company offers a cloud-based solution that assists radiologists in analyzing medical images and identifying potential abnormalities. This technology improves the efficiency of the diagnostic process, potentially leading to early detection and treatment of diseases, which is very necessary for enhancing healthcare quality.

Jennifer Orisakwe is a health researcher and data storyteller, who loves to explore the ways actions (and inactions) of healthcare stakeholders affect decision-making and outcomes.

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