According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of premature heart diseases and 40 percent of cancers could be prevented if the risk factors are eliminated. This is why the healthcare system needs to change. Preventing diseases rather than curing them is the way we need to approach health care. The good news is that the future is slowly but surely heading in that direction.
Investment Opportunities
If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s that a country’s health care system is closely tied to its economic security. From here on out, most of the world will be focused on preventing a pandemic of this magnitude from ever happening again, making this the perfect time to invest in health care franchise opportunities.
Additionally, most governments now understand the need to push for better health care systems in their country. Although policies might take a while to be implemented, the pandemic set the stage for politics and health care to merge. The dialog is now open between the two entities and experts believe this would make more people trust in the health care industry as a viable investment opportunity.
The Role of Technology
There’s no denying that technology will play a major role in how we look at the health care industry moving forward. In fact, some of these advancements are available now, making the future of preventive medicine and health care that much brighter, particularly if you’re looking at it from a financial standpoint.
Here are some examples:
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Personalized Health Care
The introduction of technology such as IoT and AI will lead to personalized health care. Health care professionals will be able to access vital functions and other health data round-the-clock with IoT devices. We already have such devices, such as the Apple Watch, already available at the consumer level. Health care professionals will be able to treat patients based on the data provided by such devices in real-time.
Based on the abundance of data provided by these devices, personalized healthcare routines and preventive treatment will be provided. For example, currently, numerous tests are conducted only after an individual visits a hospital and explain their issues to the doctors. With IoT and AI, doctors will have access to various health parameters and can prescribe a treatment even before individual steps into the hospital.
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Robot Medical Assistants
AI-capable robots will be able to handle and simplify most processes in the health care industry. They will be used for assisting doctors, better medical imaging, to even carry out remote surgeries. We already are seeing robots at health care facilities such as the robot ‘Eve’ at a San Francisco hospital. It is one of the twenty-five robots that are currently being used. ‘Eve’ helps the staff by bringing items from the pharmacy, kitchen, and labs. It can work without any breaks, proving highly useful to the hospital.
A hospital in China takes the introduction of robots in healthcare even further. Besides transporting supplies, the robot also helps with CT scans, pre-diagnosis, and many more tasks. The robots can also be used for preventive treatment as they can carry out tasks in the absence of doctors, with the advancement of technology. With advancements in other technologies such as 6G and LiFi, robotic surgeries can become commonplace and result in better outcomes.
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Wearable Trackers and Sensors
Wearable trackers and sensors are already here. But currently, its adoption is limited to individual choices. In the future, we can see wearable trackers becoming an important part of everyone’s lives. We are already seeing the amazing benefits of these devices and it is very likely that every individual will be seen wearing one in the future.
Doctors, too, might personally recommend and prefer their patients to have a fitness tracker as these devices enable easy transmission of vital health data between the patient and the doctor. Health care professionals will be able to predict future health care issues with greater accuracy, leading to better preventive care. This will be made possible by the availability of a large volume of data that is collected by these devices.
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Genome Sequencing
Genome sequencing is a revolutionary approach that can completely change the health care industry. It can help discover valuable information about various healthcare aspects. Doctors can easily find a patient’s drug sensitivity, multi-factorial or mono-genic medical conditions, and even the family health history. This can result in prescribing treatment that can bring better results.
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Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology involves the use of items built on the nano-scale, between one and a hundred nanometers. In health care, nanotechnology can help in diagnosing and monitoring diseases, administering drugs, and improving medical imaging. It can provide multi-functional uses, too. For instance, a nano-device can be used to find tumors as well as delivering the drugs to the target site. They can open the doors to noninvasive, patient-friendly, and predictive treatments as they can easily reach areas where it is currently not possible for human doctors.
The future of the health care industry is truly revolutionary. It is only a matter of time before predictive health care takes center stage, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, and the overall health of individuals.