Will you receive care, little friend?

To cope with the major demographic changes of the coming decades, when fewer employed people will support more, today's social and healthcare systems need to change. The question is how?

Here are 10 disruptive trends for sustainable health for all:

1. Individual-based prevention, instead of healthcare

Sequencing and highly sensitive biomarkers in combination with digital health screening tools can predict health risks and recommend preventive interventions on an individual level to prevent or detect disease early. Those with the greatest needs receive more effective preventive measures, which have the greatest impact on health outcomes.

2. Self-monitoring

Real time self-monitoring via electronic sensors worn on the body or in close proximity in textiles, or built in walls, can identify early signs of illness or deteriorating conditions, be used to properly dose medication and for treatment follow up. The individual becomes confident and involved in their healthcare and caregivers can better plan and redistribute resources.

3. Shared health data and interoperability

Biological, lifestyle, registry data and journal texts together constitute health data. More and more people are willing to share their health data, which will increase access to data and our ability to analyse and learn from it. However, that requires seamless, secure systems where data can move freely. Until these are in place, federated learning can be used. Instead of moving data to central units for analysis and learning, the algorithm is moved to local data units.

4. AI

The number of AI applications in healthcare is increasing. AI is used for image diagnostics and radiology, robotic surgery and treatment support. Moreover, an AI chatbot can offer first-line primary care and a "co-pilot" can listen to conversations between doctors and patients and then summarise the conversation in journal text. AI also plays an increasingly important role in drug development, clinical trials, preventive maintenance of instruments and streamlining patient flows and administrative tasks.

5. Scientific breakthroughs and advanced therapies

New drugs that treat lifestyle diseases and reduce the risk of diabetes, myocardial infarction and stroke have a huge impact on improving public health. The mRNA vaccines against Covid-19 were developed and became commercially available in less than a year saving hundreds of thousand of people from severe illness. Development is progressing rapidly; new cell and gene therapies are being launched that can cure previously deadly diseases. CRISPR-Cas9, a technique for modifying genetic material, together with advances in 3D-printed tissues and organs, can contribute to additional leaps forward.

6. Cross-industry collaborations

No person is an island. To solve the complex healthcare problems, multiple actors such as tech startups, tech giants, life science companies, public and private healthcare providers, civil society, environmental organisations, and the food industry need to work together and create new opportunities.

7. The patient, the consumer.

Patients are becoming increasingly aware and demanding the best possible care. Many searches for their symptoms online before seeking medical attention, and with greater access to private health insurance, digital healthcare providers, and self-monitoring, patients' choices in healthcare are increasing. Digital search services will offer quality registers of healthcare providers, available appointments, and compile individualised healthcare packages for the patient as a consumer.

8. Behaviorial change and lifelong learning

Individuals must take greater responsibility for their own health. At the same tome more people use wearables to register health parameters. Competitive elements and engagement in apps linked to these monitors can encourage more movement, flexible dosing of medication, and improved health. Employers will take a more active role in their employees' physical and mental health by offering health-promoting activities, prevention, flexible work arrangements, and opportunities for growth and lifelong learning.

9. New payment and business models

Widespread implementation of new digital and technological solutions into the healthcare system is difficult. Private actors often must service their offerings to sell their products. Meanwhile, very expensive but curative therapies are approved and implemented. New business and outcome-based models, with the possibility of shared risk, will drive the implementation of innovation and the shift to preventive, rather than curative, interventions.

10. Legislation

Several new and upcoming EU regulations are driving change. The EU Commission's proposal for an updated pharmaceutical legislation, includes the goal of providing an innovative and attractive system for the continued development of sustainable, accessible, safe, and environmentally friendly medicines. This requires legislation adapted to the digital transformation and new innovations, with reduced bureaucracy, and simplified faster procedures.