Opinion: 3 ways innovation can resolve health care challenges

We all witnessed the acceleration of digitalization during the COVID-19 pandemic. Especially in health care, digital innovation demonstrated the potential to significantly improve the delivery and sustainability of health services. But the pandemic also worsened existing global health challenges, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Tuberculosis deaths increased for the first time in over a decade, the World Health Organization estimates a projected shortfall of 10 million health workers by 2030, and several studies have reported the disruption of essential health services for prevention and diagnosis of noncommunicable diseases during the pandemic.

Let’s look at three ways in which innovation can offer sustainable solutions to some of these global health care challenges.

1. Local scalable solutions to improve logistics

Innovation can help a country or a region to leapfrog in health care delivery. Implementation of drones to improve health care logistics is one such example. In underserved communities, a persistent challenge has been the scarcity of medicines and medical consumables, lack of basic testing for diseases, and limited availability of blood plasma. This results in delayed or inaccurate diagnosis, as well as ineffective treatment and management of patients. Using drones has led to substantial progress in improving logistics and making essential health care services available, for example in rural Meghalaya, India.

Moving laboratory test samples from a collection center to a central lab efficiently by using drones not only increases diagnostic capability for communities very far from a main hospital but also provides additional insights about the local health system. The data derived from these test results makes it possible to visualize the disease pattern of the region in real-time and plan for the needs of the future. It also provides a platform to increase health care awareness within local communities and an opportunity for generating local employment.

Implementation of drones can be scalable provided proper assessment and planning is conducted. This assessment comprises understanding the current and future demand, cost-effectiveness, risks involved, and the local medical regulatory and aviation laws.

To make drone deliveries a sustainable solution, it is also critical to close the loop of clinical pathways. This includes making accurate and early diagnoses, along with providing accessible treatment programs for those who need it most. Several drone projects are in progress in South Asia and Africa, serving as good examples of a viable solution.

2. Upskilling of staff using digitalization

Technology is advancing at a very high speed and there is a need for a skilled workforce at all levels of the health care system. This poses a significant challenge for LMICs because of under-investment in education and training. Additionally, skilled workforce often migrates to higher-income nations to pursue better opportunities.

The pandemic led to the enhancement of existing online education platforms. From simple lectures to customized immersive education, today it is possible to train health care workers using augmented reality, virtual reality, and 3D simulators without missing out on the in-person training experience. There are many good reasons why remote education is here to stay. It has proved to add a high level of convenience and flexibility and not having to travel has both economic and environmental benefits. Moreover, the new generation entering the workforce is digitally native.

Educational collaboration between innovation companies and universities is a trend that is paving the way to train students — the future health care workforce. Using advanced curriculum, this approach allows them a smooth transition into the professional world.

3. Tackling staff shortages using AI and remote technology

As populations are living longer and incidences of NCDs are increasing, there is a need to build more resilient health systems. The escalating staff shortages create tremendous pressure on the existing workforce, resulting in burnout, increased human error, and inadequate time for patient care.

Artificial intelligence will continue to play a significant role in addressing staff shortages. Analyses that are difficult, time-consuming, or inefficient to perform alone, can be addressed with the assistance of AI-powered tools, allowing professionals to stay focused on their patients and better use their expertise. Routine tasks such as reading tuberculosis X-ray scans or breast cancer-related scans can be automized and standardized using AI-powered software. AI-driven automation of laboratory test sample processing can also help improve overall workflow and operational efficiency.

In today’s modern world, a radiology technologist can work from home. Decentralized work via remote scanning helps to broaden access to the expertise of a technician, sitting somewhere in a metropolitan area. If this trend accelerates, we could soon see technologists working on a nationwide or even international basis. The combination of remote technology and AI has opened enormous avenues to improve current global challenges. While the use of AI is also posing ethical questions, associations are joining forces to define guiding principles, recognizing AI has immense potential to shape the future of health care.

Improving health care access means solving local challenges in underserved areas sustainably, so that no individual is left behind. To achieve universal health coverage, it is important to embrace and invest in new and emerging innovative technologies. We are seeing commitment from various private and public organizations to form collaborations that are steering ways to build resilient health care systems. Together, we can accelerate innovation to help those who need it most.