Deloitte Releases Infographic on the 2015 Global Healthcare Industry Outlook
Editor’s Note: Deloitte recently released its annual report on the core issues, trends, and influencing factors impacting the global healthcare industry. Authorized by Deloitte, VCBeat has compiled and translated excerpts from the report and its infographics as follows:
Major Issues Facing the Industry in 2015
The outlook for the global healthcare industry in 2015 appears highly complex. Advances in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, coupled with government policy incentives, have undoubtedly accelerated industry expansion; however, pressure to reduce costs is simultaneously intensifying. Population growth and rising consumption levels have increased demand for healthcare services, yet the pressures of an aging population and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases are forcing payers to make difficult decisions from a value-based perspective. Consequently, many once-promising business models have lost their luster. In this article, VCBeat will compile Deloitte’s 2015 Global Health Care Outlook report to introduce the various trends expected to shape the global healthcare industry in 2015 and provide recommendations for industry professionals.
Four Major Trends in 2015 That Will Impact Stakeholders Across the Global Healthcare Industry Ecosystem:Costs, Market Adaptability, Transformation and Digital Innovation, Regulation and Compliance。
Cost
Cost issues will be the most significant factor affecting the healthcare industries in the vast majority of countries in 2015. Pressure to control costs and increase industrial value-added is mounting. Policy uncertainty, persistent economic pressures, and fiscal austerity measures in many nations have raised questions about the sustainability of public healthcare funding. Furthermore, there are concerns and doubts regarding the adequacy of financial resources required to better allocate healthcare services, particularly in balancing the development of primary care with the growing demand for emergency and critical care services. The high costs associated with targeted therapies, personalized medicine, genetic medicine, advanced medical devices, and other cutting-edge technologies not only drive up healthcare expenditures but also lead to adverse consequences such as the wastage of medical resources, fraudulent consumption, and heightened tensions in doctor-patient relationships.
Market Adaptability
New developments in healthcare are compelling hospitals and the entire industry to rethink traditional business models, enabling them to adapt to this transformation and better seize the associated opportunities and challenges.
The Increasing Role of the Government—In the global healthcare industry, governments are increasingly assuming the roles of payer and regulator. Therefore, governmental influence must be taken seriously.
Economies of Scale—Unseen forces are setting the stage for rapid consolidation among healthcare providers. Particularly in the United States, both horizontal and vertical integration are accelerating despite heightened government regulation and scrutiny. Furthermore, with the emergence of “product–service” ecosystems, cross-sector consolidation is expected to increase gradually.
Competition for Talent——Whether in developed or developing countries, the scarcity of professional medical talent has become a pressing concern as populations grow and healthcare demands increase. This shortage is particularly acute in nations with less advanced healthcare systems, where there is a significant lack of adequately trained medical personnel.
Improving the Delivery of Healthcare Services— Shortages of medical personnel, large patient populations, severe lack of basic medical infrastructure in certain countries, and aging medical equipment in both developed and developing nations are common barriers to patients’ access to healthcare services.
Consumer Habits——The substantial out-of-pocket costs that patients face in healthcare services, including for specific medications and medical devices, have become a significant factor influencing their healthcare consumption choices.
Transformation and Digital Innovation
The adoption of new digital health information technologies, such as electronic medical records (EMRs), internet-based healthcare, telemedicine, and big data analytics, is transforming the interactions among physicians, payers, patients, and other stakeholders in the healthcare industry. A range of digital innovations, including artificial intelligence, digital diagnostic instruments, and wearable devices, are helping physicians improve the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment while significantly reducing costs. Technological advancements have also strengthened connections between developed countries and emerging markets, as well as within the healthcare sector as a whole. In some regions, these changes have disrupted traditional healthcare models, yet their contribution to medical progress is undeniable.
Regulation and Compliance
The regulatory landscape of the global healthcare industry is highly complex and undergoing significant transformation. The fundamental driver of this change is clearly patient health and safety; however, approaches to patient protection vary across different countries. This variation stems from several factors, including specific medical contexts and technological advancements; strengthened oversight by governments, media, and consumers; more sophisticated risk monitoring technologies; and increased cross-sectoral and cross-regional collaboration. Payment transparency has become a key focus within the healthcare industry, and safeguarding the security of medical information has likewise garnered widespread attention across the sector.
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