Digital Transformation Could Blindside Healthcare

Q: What are the main trends you see in the health sector at the moment?
A: Many hospitals think they are doing just fine, ignoring the fact that healthcare is changing rapidly. A transformation similar to what visual media encountered with Netflix is coming to healthcare and many institutions are not prepared for this kind of disruption. Traditionally, healthcare is about a consult between a doctor and a patient. However, more and more businesses are springing up that offer health services in alternative ways using new technology.
Treatments can also be provided outside the hospital through new innovations and better communication platforms. Due to the rise in chronic diseases, the needs of patients are shifting away from simple hospital visits. Healthcare is increasingly becoming preventive as opposed to solely curative. All these changes require new forms of cooperation. Traditional industry players have reacted by seeking more collaboration and, for the first time, I have seen hospitals and insurance agencies sitting down at the table to discuss how they can best work together. Yet, they are still far behind in terms of confronting the challenges ahead.