The impact of the technology in health it’s undeniable. In recent years we have seen how innovation has fully immersed itself in this field to promote, prevent, diagnose or treat diseases or long-term rehabilitation. But how has it really influenced?
Recent years have shown, even more so, that health is a fundamental area. A pandemic stopped the world in 2020 due to a virus that killed millions of people around the world. A global problem where technology once again demonstrated that it was there to help solve this situation, but also to provide instruments so that other environments could continue working.
Health is a priority for anyone. And as such it is noted in the demand for these services on the part of citizens and the growing interest in digital transformation reaching all health facets, taking advantage of its intrinsic advantages.
If we have to define health technologies, we can say that they are any intervention developed with the purpose of promoting health, preventing, diagnosing or treating diseases or for rehabilitation or long-term care.
In recent years, both public and private investment in health technology has been increasing. In 2021, for example, a record investment in total R&D in health technology was reached in Spain, with 1,267 million euros, 9% higher than 2020.
Investment in health technology reached its record in 2021
By 2023, a total public budget was allocated for health 7,049 million euros by 2023, 29.72% more than the previous year. An amount that included awards to improve the sector with technological tools.
But the development does not stop here. In the case of public administration, Spain plans to invest 850 million euros in digital health until 2026. This seeks to undertake a “strategic transformation of the National Health System through technology”according to the words of Juan Fernando Muñoz, Secretary General of Digital Health, Information and Innovation of the Government.
To these forecasts we must also add investment in the private health sector. A segment that in 2022 increased its business by 4%, although its investment decreased to 32,140 million euros, compared to 33,398 million euros the previous year.
The influence of technology on health
The penetration of technology in health has been a constant in recent years. From primary care to research institutions to hospitals, they have seen how technology has fully entered.
Conceived as a facilitator of the work of healthcare workers, technology seeks to improve processes, increase transparency and, ultimately, create healthcare that is more prepared for the challenges of the future. Although there are many benefits that technology has brought us in health, these are some of the most notable:
- Greater access to information: Screens in hospitals or information stands have been taking shape in many health spaces to offer more tools for patient management, as well as raising awareness of healthy habits.
- Digital management: Little by little, the work of healthcare workers has also been digitalized with equipment that allows them to record consultations, access history or view patient tests with greater precision.
- Research and scientific advances: It is undeniable that the fundamental role of scientists is to understand how our body works and why certain diseases occur in order to subsequently provide solutions. And that is where technology has been advancing and supporting research so that R&D is a reality in healthcare.
- Most effective treatments: Thanks to advances in AI, it is easier to predict how a patient will progress or help them manage their treatment in the best way.
- Healthier and more pleasant environments: Part of the treatment of a disease is based on bringing together favorable conditions so that patients can improve. This is influenced by both the environment in which you work and the entertainment options that can be offered. That is why it is equally important to have air conditioning systems, pollution reduction, and leisure systems that allow us to build a pleasant space in which to improve.
To achieve these advantages they are many health technologies that may be involved. From the most visible such as the screens, digital signage or the equipment on which work is carried out to the less palpable such as the management platforms, the cloud or on-premises infrastructure where the data is stored, the cybersecurity that protects the systems or the AI itself that manages the procedures or offers different solutions.
Although investments are made in different technologies, some stand out. This is the case of hybrid multicloud deployments where the healthcare sector expects to multiply investment by seven in the next 3 years. Of course, cybersecurity or the movement of applications to improve data security are also a priority.
In any case, what is evident is that health technology is an unquestionable ally. A means to achieve many ends that involve improving people’s health. To delve deeper into health technology, we invite you to read our document. Do not miss it!
