Digital Health is defined such as the concept that incorporates information and communication technologies (ICT) and health care and sanitation products, services and processes; it also considers institutions whose mission is to improve health. Cover different technologies, such as wearable devices, sensors, mobile applications, artificial intelligence, robotic caregivers, and electronic behavior records.

Digital Health seeks to prevent diseases and help patients monitor and manage chronic diseases, reduce the cost of medical care and make medicines tailored to individual needs.

Digitization drives social transformation in healthcare

At the present time, the entire health ecosystem is immersed in an extremely dizzying and changing digital transformation process (insurers, instrument manufacturers, doctors, specialists and patients). Among the most outstanding advances, we can mention the developments in Apps for wearable (wearable) devices, telemedicine, digital monitoring of patients, personalized medicine, disease prevention, etc.

Now we have instant information available on both health and quality of life, which is why a new doctor-patient relationship has been established. In other words, technological advances in the digitization of healthcare are transforming medical care in all its forms and fostering the emergence of new companies with innovative business models.

The use of Big Data, with this medical objective, facilitates the entire process of analysis of information generated by patients. The infinite results of such a magnitude of data processing will modify the way of diagnosing and identifying risk factors, will help in the personalisation of specific treatments and the implementation of preventive prophylaxis; Potentially the results and efficiency of the sector will be improved.

Digital Health Trends- Technologies That Will Define

The health alert and social confinement as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, added to the accelerated digitization of the last decade, have modified the habits of consumers, in this sense, medical patients have not been the exception. Aspects such as widespread access to the Internet, the large amount of valuable information with resources and recommendations, the growing concern for health and, above all, the huge investment and funding by academic and supranational institutions (Centers for Control and Prevention of Diseases or the WHO with a budget of 584 billion dollars for 2020-2021), companies and governments, have undoubtedly changed the face of the health market.

This situation has revealed the potential and real vulnerability of the public and private health systems. The increase in the contagion curve collapsed hospitals and public institutions, making evident a series of delays in equipment, medicines and installed capacity. The health gap or GAP between industrialized and developing countries, the preponderance of particular interests over social ones, and the monopoly hegemony in technology and laboratories were revealed.

Innovation is at the forefront of health policies around the world

The COVID-19 pandemic is playing a relevant role in the development of widespread innovation in all sectors of human activity. For obvious reasons and according to the World Innovation Index 2020, one of the areas that will require more creativity to face current challenges is the health sector. Fact that will possibly hamper some innovative activities in other sectors.

A key aspect in the short and medium term is how the economic effects of the COVID-19 crisis will affect emerging companies, investments and other sources of financing for innovation. The 2020 Global Innovation Index concludes that the subsequent support policies by governments should prioritize innovation, without neglecting the SME segment and emerging companies that normally have difficulties accessing government funds for business development. .

Technological transformation with a social twist

With France prepared to hold the rotating presidency of the EU Council in 2022, an agenda centered on axes that go through the economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic, the need to progress in the negotiations of the new Migration and Asylum Pact of the EU, and the so-called Europe of Defense.

The Council brings together the ministers of the Member States of the Union by field of activity. Together with the European Parliament, it assumes the legislative function in the European Union. Regarding the agenda for next year, there is clarity on the most important challenges and there is greater sensitivity about the implications of global interdependence.

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French Trends In Digital Health Transformation

Undoubtedly, the advancement of vaccination processes and economic recovery will be a priority, as well as the visibility of all possible obstacles to achieve it in the short term (prices, political tensions, health vulnerability, immigration, etc.). It is in this environment that France assumes the role of international leader in this return to normality, where health occupies the highest place of priorities; Without a doubt, the success or failure of immunization or the success of treatments against COVID-19 are decisive factors on the political, economic and social agenda at all levels.

French e-Health companiesare attracting an increasing number of investors, and this is because the digital health sector is in a boom stage, thanks to subsidies and support with regard to telemedicine services and the reengineering of the market of prevention and health. The digital health plan of the Gallic country includes preventive medicine, telehealth, surgical robotics and medical devices with artificial intelligence.

The cluster of the 50 most successful French companies in Digital Health have obtained financing for an amount close to 1,000 million euros; The sector that groups health and wellness solutions with Internet of Things technology (digital interconnection of everyday objects with the Internet) stands out. Activity trackers, digital blood pressure monitors, and chronic disease remote surveillance solutions have been the most relevant digital health merchandise on the market.

The European Health Data Bank

The creation of the EHDS (European Health Data Area)It is one of the key priorities of the European Union in the field of health. The purpose is to promote the exchange of data and support research on new preventive strategies, as well as on treatments, medicines, health products and results. The overriding goal is to make the most of digital health to provide high-quality healthcare and reduce inequalities.

With the realization of the EHDS, it seeks to obtain useful results in the field of health data processing and take advantage of the possibilities of advances in digital technologies. The collection, access, storage and use of data in health procurement pose the main challenges for this information bank.

HERA incubator as a new opening for science and biodefense

In order to prepare Europe for a greater threat from coronavirus variants, the European Commission announced earlier this year the implementation of un European Biodefense Preparedness Plancalled “HERA Incubator”. The Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) Incubator will bring together science, industry and authorities, and all available resources so that the EU can effectively respond to this challenge.

With this HERA plan,the EU seeks to focus on key actionsagainst the pandemic, such as: detection and analysis of new variants of the pathogen, developing effective vaccines and their adaptations, financing of new large-scale research projects, accelerating approvals and increasing the volume of production of biologics.

DTx: The Perfect Complement to Medical Therapy

Among the most recent medical advances, there are the so-called digital therapeutic products, which have the ability to perform therapeutic interventions to prevent, control or treat a disorder or disease.These Digital Therapeutics (DTx)offer an innovative form of medical treatment to patients with chronic diseases with a fundamental competitive advantage, cost savings.

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The growing power of digital healthcare

The growth of the market for therapeutic interventions is driven by different triggers, such as government initiatives for preventive care, technological advances in medical care, substantial increase in investment in medical projects and the ability to produce behavioral changes, as well as the ease of use and the comfort of the patient.

These advances are defined as products that provide evidence-based interventions to patients, they use high-quality software programs in order to prevent, manage, or treat a disorder or disease. These types of products provide broad access to therapy options for conditions that have never been treated or only nuanced by traditional drugs and therapies.

The current growth of this type of therapies and other health technologies benefits the quality of life of patients and they are a support for health professionals for their work and to be more effective in their service.

Major players in this medical segment will need to consider options that go beyond just developing and marketing these digital products; Health technology innovators will need to focus on the unmet needs of patients and how they can be met through technological advancements.