Health Beyond the Pandemic Webinar Key Takeaways
Key takeaways from the discussion are highlighted below. Please also see the Resources listed at the bottom for links to other sources of information Derek cited. To access the video replay, click here.
- Overall, the global population is emerging from the pandemic unhealthier than ever. Cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, substance abuse, and mental health challenges have risen; preventive screenings have dropped significantly. Derek labeled the current state as a “smoldering pandemic of chronic disease.”
- Addressing this growing public health crisis requires broader access to care and a focus on preventive measures such as nutrition and exercise. Not only would broader access to quality care reduce the burden of chronic disease, overall health has been a key indicator of individuals’ ability to weather infectious diseases.
- However, global health investment is disproportionately focused on infectious disease and pandemic preparedness. Further, the investment in chronic disease treatment is heavily focused on developing new pharmaceutical treatments with greater return on investment potential rather than innovative ways to improve access to existing treatments.
- Amid these challenges are promising new opportunities for investment in innovative health care technologies and delivery methods: for example, digital technologies such as wearable monitors; targeted therapeutics that boost the efficacy of treatment for illnesses such as cancer; expansion in telehealth services. Derek noted that technology to improve the use of analytics and enable interactivity between patients and health care providers could lead to innovative business models for health service delivery.
Resources
How 21st-Century Longevity Can Create Markets and Drive Economic Growth | World Economic Forum (paper)
Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution | World Economic Forum (website)
Our Future Health | The UK’s largest ever health research programme (website)
Please see the PDF version of this article for important disclosures.
