Why World Should Be Concerned About Digital Health in 2022!!!!

If we just sit and think for a second, we’d realize that technology is everywhere. Not just this, we all are so dependent on technology. You can take the simple example of smartphones, without it or the internet facility, we feel our life is dull.

Whether on one hand, technology has made our life easy, it has also led to a sedentary lifestyle. This has, in turn, put a burden on our health.

So, if you have inquisitive nature, you must be thinking that how on earth, we are hailing technology, when in the end we are deteriorating our health.

Now, if you are someone who hails Mother Nature, let’s break down what actually Earth consists of amidst all this technological era:

• E- Electronic
• A- Artificial Intelligence
• R- Research
• T- Technology
• H- Health

If you just take a closer look, don’t you think that these are the necessary pre-requisite of our planet earth these days? And, most importantly, the “health” in the earth is uniting all the realms of technology and science. Not a single day goes by without any invention or new discovery. Interestingly, each day the new technology is the advanced version of its previous form.

When we look at artificial intelligence, so whether it’s education, retail or even healthcare, everything is simpler and efficient due to it. In fact, the COVID-19 has proved, how the dynamics of healthcare has changed globally. This is again due to Science.

Now, let’s have a look at why innovations and technology are important for the healthcare system.

If we compare the health services before and after, we have come a long way. Imagine sitting and waiting for hours just to consult with a doctor. But, with the advancement in technology, not only the global status of an individual is modernized but also improved the general lifestyle. Global healthcare has improved dynamically. E-Consultation and E-pharmacy have made medication feasible for everyone.

The introduction of artificial intelligence has made it easy for researchers and scientists to explore the horizons of the human brain and how it works. Doctor online service has conveniently ditched the long queues and waiting hours at the hospital.

The modern 3D drug printers have effectively created some marvellous life-saving drugs. Bioprinting, regenerative medicine, nanomedicine, robotics etc have come together acting as the building block of the healthcare system.

Healthcare software such as Hospital Management Software and Practice Management Software has not only helped in decreasing the manual work but has also helped the doctors in giving more time to patients by saving time and improved work efficiency.

Now, Let’s further dig into the modern innovations that are continuously working together to strengthen our healthcare system.

1. 3D Drug Printing Innovation

This is without a doubt one of the best innovations. This technology helps in printing the medicines (pills) that has complex structures. As compared to normal drugs, it is more effective as it is responsible for accurate dosages. 3D drug printing technology also helps in controlling intracellular and extracellular drug distribution.

This improved distribution without a doubt has overpowered the previous methods. In fact, this technology has helped the prevention of many dangerous drug interactions. The first approved drug by this technology was created by Aprecia Pharmaceuticals. It is of its kind the very first anti-epileptic drug.

2. Nanomedicines-Nanotechnology

Just as the name, “nano”, this field deals in “nanotechnology” in the field of medicine. It is one of the promising technology that would improve drug delivery by reducing the severe side effects. These drugs are most important in treating cancer and other tumours.

You must be thinking that what is so special about these nanomedicines? Right?!

Well, the nanomedicines have a unique magnetic, optical and radical character that makes them quite different from any other medical tools. At the moment, it is one of the advanced technology for detecting and treating cancer.

Nanomedicine is not only just medicine, but it is also a particular application that uses nanomaterials and biological devices in the healthcare system.

3. 3D Bioprinting

If you love sci-fi movies, you would have a vague idea about creating a whole new organ. Well… Well… 3D printing is basically the same miraculous technology that helps the researchers in creating bones, tissues, blood vessels etc. In fact, scientists even claim that they are able to create a whole organ from 3D bioprinting technology.

It is the future medicinal technology as it will not only help create effective organs but also reduce the killing of animals due to clinical trials purpose.

If scientists and researchers are able to produce the exact original organs of humans from this technology, it would be extremely beneficial for the transfer therapies. Sprintam is one of the FDA-approved branches of this particular application.

4. Cloud Computing

Gone are the days, where you have to manually record a patient’s healthcare data. Yes, It’s a reality now.

Everything, even your health is now in your hand.

Cloud Computing, not only aid in organizing, analyzing and recording the health record of a patient. It also helps the patient in having proper control and check of his/her health.

Attributes such as Appointment booking with the doctors, online medical consultation, telemedicine, e-pharmacy, online lab test and pre/post-hospitalization, cloud computing has without a doubt filled the needs in the healthcare system.

The best thing about cloud computing is that not only it is useful in maintaining and monitoring particular data, but it also helps in proper organizing the global data.

The data and stats of the hospitals can be sent to the top research centres to analyze the causative agents, common diseases, health indexes etc. This would help in formulating the best healthcare policies and reducing healthcare costs.

5. e-Health Trackers

e-Health trackers are more than just a luxury now. Today, if someone says to you that your health is in your hand, you need to believe them as these health trackers are their answer. Gadgets such as breathing rate trackers and BP trackers are a revolution in the health sector.

Nowadays, you would definitely come across people jogging early in the morning wearing the latest advanced gadgets walking and jogging, counting their steps and heartbeat in between.

6. Online Doctor Services

Online appointment booking and consultancy is pacing up these days all over the globe. In Pakistan, Healthwire is one such digital healthcare platform. Not only they are helping patients connect with the best doctors all over Pakistan, but are also providing services of HMS, practice management software, pharmacy management software and even laboratory management software.

This system is effective in saving time, improving health practices and reducing overall health costs.

7. Artificial Intelligence

Last, but not least, artificial intelligence is the game-changer in the field of medicine to get to know about the human brain and to analyze it a bit more. AI is being particularly used in the field of cardiology, neurology and other branches of healthcare. At the moment, the AI is being used in a hospital in London for the analysis of the retina.

What is the Main Challenge in the Healthcare Sector Even After All This Advancement?

Well.. even if there is a boom of advancement in healthcare technology, you must have a question in your mind that why there are still medical issues? Right?!

This question would be popping up more in your mind especially during this COVID-19 pandemic situation, where the world literally stopped and healthcare needed a boost.

You must also have an ambiguity that if technology in healthcare is this great, why can’t we control infections? Why do people still die of diseases or during surgery?

Even though the healthcare industry is witnessing so many innovations, still there is a dire need for the proper system to implement and check the blockers in health. Communication lags and technical errors are one of the top major drawbacks.

Let’s have a look at other major factors:

• Cost Factor- It is the major factor. Healthcare is expensive. A middle-class person cannot easily afford the chemo or radiotherapy procedure for cancer.
• Lack of Infrastructure- Having the best-advanced facilities is not an answer to the best healthcare services unless we have a proper system to manage it. For any country, infrastructure plays a very important role in the healthcare system of any country.
• Internet Unavailability- Even though the internet is a game-changer in this digital field. But, not every town or village has internet accessibility. This is one of the main hindering factors in telehealth services.
• Lack of Awareness- People still need to be updated on the technology. There are still communication gaps and many other reasons that people are still unaware of technology and how to use it.
• Shortage of Expert Man Power- The world has become a global village. Capable and trained people are moving out of the country for better opportunities. This is good for globalization purposes, but in turn, it is affecting the development of Pakistan

By timely improving these blockers we can achieve our ultimate goal in no time. All we need to have is a proper plan for the execution. Researchers and scientists are working day and night for an improved version of healthcare for mankind.

In the coming days, we can expect that diseases would be cured without the fraction of human errors. Also, no matter where we would be, there is always room for improvement. The sign of Life is indeed Improvement.

It may be a fantastical dream or utopia but there will be a world in future, where we can put blind faith in our hospitals, their machines and results.