Ian Bolland suggests that medtech will be at the forefront of a more proactive approach to healthcare in 2022.
Towards the end of 2021, and at the start of 2022 it was hard not to signal something of a shift caused by the events of the last couple of years.
During a four-day visit to COMPAMED/MEDICA, I came away from Dusseldorf with my opinion reaffirmed that the approach of developing new medical technologies, or technologies for the medical setting, is now increasingly about prevention rather than reaction.
This is not a new thing for those who have followed the new technological developments for some time, but it feels like the events of COVID-19, like with a lot of the changes seen in many other sectors, may have hurried the process along somewhat.
Technology has been repurposed. More consumer-based technologies have been made more accessible as society has become more health conscious while other aspects are branching into different areas of the healthcare setting – whether that is infection control, making procedures easier through better components and devices, and indeed using technology to educate those how to use these devices properly to enhance patient outcomes.
One burning issue for me though, is whether the innovators and innovations from these companies will be able to drive significant strategical change within our health systems.
In the UK, there have been several strategy papers and legislation developed in the last couple of years – The NHS Long Term Plan and The Topol Review to name a couple that have both focused and outlined areas where new technologies can be best used within the NHS. A lot of the focus has been on efficiency and better treatments, using data in a better manner, reducing burden on clinical staff, and ensuring the workforce is more digital literate – all of which are admirable.
But it wouldn’t surprise me if 2022 was more about keeping people out of hospital rather than treating them within the care setting – irrespective of the presence of a dangerous airborne virus.
We’ve all necessarily become more accustomed to self-testing and monitoring our conditions and there appears to be an appetite for this to continue. I’ve never met anyone who enjoys going to their doctor, and medtech and more information allows us to keep on top of any symptoms for whatever condition may be manifesting itself. Whenever we need that consultation with our GP, we go in armed with more information and it’s more of a two-way interaction, ultimately leading to a more informed outcome and treatment pathway.
Now, one wonders if there is the political will to transform the approach to health with the benefit for these new technologies. Under the previous health secretary, the UK has published a Long Term Plan for the NHS as well as the Health and Care Bill – both of these could be amended and developed to cater for this change in approach, while the main opposition party has started to set out its policy platform – which will surely see more meat on the bones as we get closer to the general election scheduled for just over two years’ time.
If either of the two main political parties in the UK really want to take advantage of the innovation potential generated in medtech in recent years, they are going to need to work closely with the industry. It will be fascinating to see what ideas and substance emerges.
