What Does The Future Of Healthcare Look Like?

After the deadly COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, it is very evident that our Healthcare System is highly vulnerable and unguarded. However, the pandemic has also made it obvious that the Healthcare Industry is flexible enough to adapt to changes per the needs and requirements. With the advancement of technology and the need for reliability over the Healthcare System, it is expected that the future of the Healthcare Industry will witness extraordinary transformations.

Undoubtedly, the Healthcare Industry has grown a lot and is still getting better with each passing day. However, the presence of the Healthcare Industry is more about treating the sick with lesser diagnoses and research. The pandemic has shaken the entire healthcare setup across the globe; therefore, there are chances that the bouncing back process of the health industry would bring longevity and innovative treatment methods to the table.

In this article, we shall be discussing what probable significant changes the healthcare industry can witness in the times to come and what probable factors can induce those changes.

FACTORS THAT CAN INFLUENCE THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE

1. TECHNOLOGY

The eventual fate and future of healthcare & medical services are getting down to business before our very eyes. The propels in advanced medical services innovations, like VR/AR, Robotics, 3D printing, Artificial Intelligence, Mechanical technology, or nanotechnology, would aid in the huge development of the Healthcare System in the times to come.

Virtual Reality or VR and Augmented Reality (AR) are techniques often used to train future surgeons. Also, this technology is used for actual surgeons to practice operations. 

2. NEEDS OF THE PATIENTS

Demands and needs on medical and health care keep on changing as per the necessities of patients. Consistently, new treatments, therapies, and medicines assist with overseeing normal sicknesses. Each such advancement influences the whole medical services framework however it emphatically affects patients. As ailments and diseases become more normal, our medical services framework would have to adjust to treat them and thus, develop the overall Healthcare Set up.

3. UNDERSTANDING

The perception towards the Healthcare setup can boost the development of the Healthcare System. Over time, people have started to understand that ultimately it is the healthcare industry that will be responsible for the overall well-being of a nation or state. Also, due to the outbreak of the Pandemic, it became very evident that the Healthcare Industry is struggling with a lot of issues. Thus, people have eventually started to change their perspective towards the healthcare system and seek more strengthening ways to cope with the problems of this industry. This change in perception can help in the overall development of the healthcare industry at the global level.

4. POLICIES

Countries that guarantee reasonable, proficient, and fair admittance to quality medical treatments and facilities are at an unmistakable benefit regarding relieving the ailments of their population. Also, such nations are more accustomed to unforeseeable medical conditions and emergencies.

The global pandemic has unwillingly forced the Governments to look at the sickening condition of the Healthcare Industry and the urgent need to mend the torn done. Therefore, a nation must form more policies related to the healthcare system. They should aim to provide cheap medical solutions, easily accessible treatments to the patients, hassle-free insurance policies and claims, and the overall healthcare system of the nation would grow dramatically.

FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY

1. HOSPITALS

It is predicted that a patient would not have to go to a doctor or hospital personally in future times. There can be scanners or sensor machines through which a person might pass and get to know about all his physical ailments. After diagnosing the illness through robots or machines, the doctor may prescribe the requisite treatment or medicines to the patient. There are even chances that the scanners or sensors can even prescribe medicines by using Artificial Intelligence. Through this technology, the doctors will be less burdened, the diagnosis will be more accurate, and treatments will be considerably speedier. 

2. SAMPLE COLLECTION

Sample Collection is an essential part of any healthcare setup. Samples of blood, urine, plasma, stool, or other microbiological specimens have always been vital for diagnosing the disease. These samples are often collected and transferred manually. However, with the advancement in technology, it is expected that hospitals or laboratories will consist of platforms where samples can be collected directly through robots or machines in the future. Further, the transfer and analysis of the samples collected may also be done through different stations with specialized machinery and services, which would reduce the overall manual work. From sample collection to generation of reports, all will be done using Artificial Intelligence.

3. NANOTECHNOLOGY

Nanotechnology is the science that deals with the study of micro and small things which can be used to develop scientific processes. In the field of Healthcare, Nanotechnology is widely used for the development and application of therapies, treatments, and medicines. Due to Nanotechnology, the treatment of various diseases and medications for the same can be researched and applied.

With the unstoppable growth and advancement of technology, it is predicted that nanotechnology will also witness significant growth and dependency in the times to come. It is expected that nanotechnology shall prove to be quite helpful in finding treatments for complex medical conditions which do not have any assured treatment to this date. With the evolution and furtherance in Nanotechnology, there can be full-proof medicines and treatments for diseases like Cancer, HIV-AIDS, Diabetes, Blindness, Covid-19, etc.

4. FETUS RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS

The future of the Medicine and Healthcare Industry holds the solutions and treatments to several health-related problems caused due to fetal issues. Technology has already developed a lot in this field. However, it is still not error-proof. In fact, at present, the reliability of the fetal tests and treatments is significantly low.

Thus, there are chances that in the future, we will see the discovery of such devices and techniques which would help to treat the pre-fetal or fetus-related health issues at the earliest. These devices would help monitor the prenatal health of both the mother and the child in a better way, thus helping reduce overall prenatal mortality, neonatal mortality, postpartum mortality, and infant mortality across the globe. 

5. CARE ENABLEMENT

It is expected that several devices, programs, and software shall be invented in the future, which would monitor and analyze all the bodily functions of a human being. These programs would take good care of the individual accessing it by informing and alarming him or her about any unexpected or dangerous fluctuation in their organ or body functioning.

Such devices and software would make medical treatments and diagnosis economical and inexpensive. It can also easily target a large chunk of the population and monitor their health.

Apart from these devices, there can be moving specialized and intensive care units well equipped with all the required machinery in the future. With the help of these moving care hubs, a person would not have to go to the hospital necessarily in case of emergency, and the best treatment shall be available at the doorstep of a patient. This will be a convenient resort for both health care workers and patients.

CONCLUSION

We live in a time where a drastic change is already being witnessed in the overall health care industry across the globe. The medical and healthcare industry has always been growing, and it has already witnessed a lot of development and inventions.

However, we have still not figured out solutions to many prevailing problems, diseases, and ailments. There is still a long way to make the Healthcare Industry reach its highest. 

What the future holds within it is something unforeseeable and unpredictable. However, some probable speculations can be made regarding the future of the healthcare industry. It is expected that due to advancement in technology, digitalization of almost every field, the invention of Artificial Intelligence, the prevailing medical conditions across the globe, the medical industry would witness a huge growth in times to come.