Wearable Medical Devices Enabling Personalised Healthcare (Part 1)
In recent decades, the healthcare system has been burdened with a growing rate of chronic disease and aging. This doesn’t speak to just one country, either. Many countries around the world have seen this trend crop up, and thus their local healthcare systems become bogged down. One country that this trend is prevalent in is China, but a solution is potentially on the horizon.
Using China as an Example
For one, a reason that China’s healthcare system is becoming overburdened with aging patients is their population and culture system. China still has in effect their One-Child Policy that limits the birth of one child per household. This was originally enacted to help combat China’s booming population, but another symptom is the unbalanced population. The elderly population in China will reach 202 million in 2013, with the aging level reaching 14.8%, according to the China Aging Development Report (2013) released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences on February 27, 2013.
Combine this with the fact that China will reach a growth peak in their elderly population of 100 million by 2025. It’s also important to consider an “empty-nester” type of environment that the elderly will come to live in as their children grow older, or within families whose only child dies. This creates an environment where the elderly are essentially the population leaders with dwindling numbers capable of taking care of them outside of the healthcare system.
Now look at the facts concerning chronic disease in China. Chronic diseases have been known as the leading cause of death and disability. If aging of population and growing of population are the consideration alone, the number of cardiovascular disease among Chinese crowd aged 35 to 84 will rise more than 50% from 2002 to 2030.
This helps to create the perfect catalyst for a healthcare system on the verge of collapse. Not only will the system be burdened by the sheer volume of patients in need of help, but it will also see a future of financial ruin.
This, however, is not the case. Instead of giving in to the issues that bog down the system, China has moved to change the care being given in order to better suit the individuals that need treatment and to help better the system so that it doesn’t fail. This means they’re moving away from the idea that treatment must include hospitalisation, diagnosis and treatment while inside a facility. Instead, the Chinese healthcare system is moving towards a plan that both treats an individual on a personal level while simultaneously involving families and communities in the process.
Kindest Regards
João
Salutem collaborate with innovative companies who have the potential to disrupt the established health markets. For a more in-depth consultation on how we can help your innovation succeed in the business world, please contact us on partners@digitalsalutem.com or +44 7731983936.
