The Real Opportunity for Healthcare Innovation in Asia Pacific

Earlier this year I read a study which predicted that Artificial Intelligence (AI) would replace surgeons by 2053. A contentious topic, and one that was the subject of a lively debate at the recent APAC MedTech Forum. The three-day event in Singapore brought together over 600 industry leaders from around the region and the globe to discuss how innovation is transforming healthcare and reshaping its ecosystem.

I was greatly inspired by the many examples of innovation that were shared throughout the forum. The speed and scale of technology is disrupting our industry like never before and the implications for governments, payers, providers and patients are significant. Japan’s Vice-Minister for Health showcased how Japan is using subsets of AI, such as machine and deep learning, to create new diagnosis and treatment methods, reducing the burden on medical staff so they can focus on patient outcomes. We also saw how in India, researchers have developed a motorized wheelchair that is commanded by thoughts alone – the first of a new generation of devices enabled by a direct mind-machine interface.

There’s no doubt that these kinds of technologies, and others such as 3D printing and next generation robotics, will radically improve the quality of care for millions of patients around the world. However, quality is only one part of the requirements to meet healthcare needs. In Asia Pacific, almost 80%[i] of the population does not have access to affordable healthcare; thus, we need to re-consider the role that innovation will play. For what good are these life-changing technologies, if they can’t reach the people who need them most?

To truly transform healthcare through innovation we must explore the implications of new technologies on improving access. Take virtual and augmented reality for example. Augmented reality headsets are already revolutionizing the way we deliver medical training and education, but what’s equally exciting is their potential as a platform for increasing access to care. Imagine a world where a doctor in Shanghai could perform semi-automated telesurgery on a patient who is thousands of miles away. In Asia Pacific, where many countries are suffering a shortage of healthcare professionals, such tools could vastly improve both quality and access to care.

Innovation to foster access emerged as a core theme throughout the forum and we discussed the challenges of innovating in resource constrained environments, as well as the necessity to develop localized innovations that specifically address the unique healthcare challenges here in Asia Pacific. This was exemplified through social entrepreneur Runa Khan’s presentation. Runa and her Friendship team have dedicated 15 years to improving healthcare access in Bangladesh, partnering with the government and the private sector to serve 4.2 million people annually. In a country where millions of people live on remote islands without access to healthcare, Friendship is delivering a range of services from building hospitals on boats to diagnosing scabies via mobile phones. This type of bold innovation is just as vital to our mission as a surgical robot or a virtual ultrasound. 

Only time will tell if AI will replace doctors but two things are certain. Firstly, we must encourage innovation in its many forms, to enhance not only quality of care, but also access to care. Secondly, we must continue to collaborate and share knowledge across our industry, for in doing so we will ensure that these technologies reach their full potential to deliver better health outcomes for patients in Asia Pacific.

[i] http://www.unescap.org/our-work/social-development/inequality-and-social-protection/about