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Technology has improved our lives in many ways but one area that we are only just starting to scratch the surface of and where there is perhaps the biggest potential in the coming years is healthcare.
Ageing populations in developed countries, rapid population growth in the developing world and issues such as rising obesity rates mean the burden on healthcare systems worldwide will continue to push them to breaking point if it is not addressed. Among the EU member states public health spend has risen from an average of 5.9% of GDP in 1990 to 7.2% in 2010 and that's expected to hit 8.5% in 2060. Especially in these times of economic austerity that kind of growth isn't sustainable.
The potential for technology to ease this burden and both improve healthcare for patients and boost the efficiency of doctors and nurses is huge. Anecdotal evidence shows IT adoption in healthcare lags a decade behind virtually every other sector so there is a lot of catching up to do.
Via Chatu Jayadewa, Rowan Norrie
