Philip’s Future Health Index spotlights greater trust in digital technologies to improve health planning

20 Jun 2022 --- Philips Future Health Index (FHI) report for 2022 explores shifts in approaches to health after the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, 68% of the 3,000 healthcare leaders participating in the survey reported trust in predictive analytics to tackle this global issue.

The report evidence that health experts are increasingly turning to the power of data and digital technologies to address health challenges. However, 46% describe working with data as a “burden rather than an asset.” 

“The data shows that healthcare leaders are embarking on a reset – refocusing their priorities as the sector emerges from the pandemic’s peak. To help achieve them, healthcare leaders are prioritizing investments in a range of digital technologies. These technologies include digital health records, telehealth and artificial intelligence (AI) tools,” Jan Kimpen, chief medical officer, Philips, tells NutritionInsight.

“Predictive analytics, which 56% of leaders in the FHI 2022 say they have already adopted, or are in the process of adopting in some form, can enable more accurate planning and forecasting. In turn, this can help to improve the reach and timeliness of programs to improve health outcomes, like healthy food access schemes.”

Preventative healthcare in spotlightDigital technologies may help people access knowledge on nutritious food and where to find it.
Overall, health awareness has increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides immunity focus, nutritional intake and microbiome awareness have also increased. Industry leaders in the healthcare sector are now following that demand.

Technology can positively affect health inequality, as demonstrated by the FHI. Healthcare leaders interviewed for this report state that one way to tackle health inequality is to use predictive analytics. The approach has already seen a “positive impact on health outcomes.” 

Out of the health care leaders, 68% note the positive impacts of predictive analytics on health inequality. Trust in predictive analysis for clinical healthcare leaders was reported to be higher than those in the operational sector. 

The report also shows a positive correlation between early adopted technologies and dealing with health inequality. Social responsibility is prioritized, as the pandemic highlighted differences across geographical locations, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, race and sexual identities.

“Digital technologies like telehealth applications can also improve access to nutritionists, and apps can also improve knowledge of healthy eating and where to access healthy food,” highlights Kimpen. 

Online diagnostics have been on the upward trend this year, as Persona Nutrition – an NHSc company – employs a similar method of online diagnostics, with its app where customers complete an assessment and are provided with a personalized vitamin pack that can auto-ship each month.

Starting with two nutritionists in 2017, Persona reveals it is now at 22 nutritionists and two pharmacists on staff. The brand has reportedly shipped over 1.4 million orders to customers in the last five years, evidencing the rising trend of “keeping a nutritionist in your pocket.”

In other moves, Abbott is developing a new consumer bio wearables – dubbed Lingo – slated to launch across Europe later this year. In 2020, the health tech giant initially tapped into the personalization trend with its glucose-monitoring sports nutrition with “lab on arm” wearable device.

Health inequalityOne result of the COVID-19 pandemic is globally rising health inequalities.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought on a reduced intake of several vitamins and other vital nutrients. This was seen especially among school children, as removing school lunches showed increased calorie intake and reduced intake of nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D, according to a study. 

“The pandemic highlighted health inequalities across society, leading to a call from the World Health Organization (WHO) for global action to address such issues,” says the FHI. 

Previous studies have shown that affordability and availability are two factors still blocking the way for nutritional equality, which is still offset by “hidden hunger, the food generation gap and the ecosystem.” Independent of calories consumed, malnutrition affects one out of three people worldwide and is based on a lack of nutrients. 

Malnutrition is linked to poor health, and nutrition has been defined as the “central part of health.” Additionally, there has been a link between income levels and health, as high-income levels are associated with higher nutritional consumption. 

By Beatrice Wihlander