Top healthcare and lifesciences trends to watch out for in 2021 and beyond

The COVID-19 pandemic is a ‘black swan’ event: An unprecedented crisis. It has led to the loss of countless human lives, livelihoods, and a lasting change in how healthcare risks are perceived. Undoubtedly, healthcare and lifesciences organizations have played a critical role towards mitigating the impact of the pandemic. The healthcare ecosystem has also witnessed a seismic shift in the pace and scale of technology enabled transformation. Attitudes towards general and public health have changed with disease prevention assuming more importance.

According to a Deloitte report, the pandemic is also an opportunity for healthcare organizations to forge new partnerships, build market goodwill, and deeper relationships of trust.  The emphasis today is on prevention, better lifestyles that are conducive to healthy living, making healthcare more accessible, and healthy ageing: Ageing populations are the most susceptible to new diseases

The collaboration between stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem has increased significantly; new services have emerged for new entrants and incumbents alike. Analytics and insights as well as knowledge in domains like Genomics AI are shaping the healthcare and lifesciences trends going ahead.

Biomarkers and AgeTech reversing the risk of age-related chronic conditions Healthcare devices that not only monitor the vital health parameters of ageing patients but also their genetic profile are set to enter the market.For ageing patients, tests that assess their metabolic biomarkers shall help assess potential healthcare risks.This article sheds light on what some of these biomarkers are. The focus of future healthcare will be on preventing and even reversing potential age-related chronic conditions. 

Next-generation digital programmes for managing diabetic health

Next-generation digital programmes shall be enabled by tools and devices like food scanners and other tools for healthcare analytics and monitoring. For instance, patients suffering from diabetics can use food scanners and glucose monitors apart from virtual diagnostics to monitor symptoms. They can adequately monitor possible threats to their health and keep them at bay.

Better pre- and pro- biotics care

Gut bacteria plays a critical role in the health of newborn babies.  With the aid of AI enabled tools like chatbots, parents can get better insights into how babies can develop a healthy gut microbiomes. The use of AI enabled in-vitro-diagnostic tests can help create a personalized formula that parents can use maintain the gut health of their newborns.  Gut health has a critical impact on immune system development and also mental health; diagnostic tools can go a long way in ensuring that generations of the future have relatively better immune systems and are less prone to mental health conditions.

COVID-19 impact

According to this article,  Digital healthcare has become the focal point for global healthcare systems.  It has led to the use of innovative tools to stem the crisis. Novel digital solutions shall be the hallmarks of healthcare in the near future. Virtual diagnostics and telemedicine has become more prevalent. The use of AI based tools is not only helping close the gap between in-person and virtual diagnostics, but is also paving the way for better healthcare outcomes.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET Edge Insights, its management, or its members

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