The older we get, the more likely we will develop a condition—related to environment, genetics, lifestyle or simply age—that needs care. The cost to society for healthcare will inevitably increase.
In developed countries, healthcare bills are already in the double digits of GDP and are rising as populations and life expectancies do. Today’s approach—waiting until people are sick before treating them—is costly and strains systems at the seams. When people fall ill and need care immediately, communication between professionals can suffer while they try to ensure the patient does not.
The way forward, according to Dutch multinational Royal Philips, is to make healthcare more personal and preventative to improve outcomes, optimize lifetime health and reduce costs. The company is now focusing on health technology to develop new diagnostic, therapeutic and data-integrated solutions that will provide benefits for both carers and patients, as part of its mission to improve the lives of three billion people by 2025
