Cyber security, Big Data analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are among the top technologies employed by healthcare and life sciences firms across the world, according to a new report by global software major Infosys. The report, Digital Outlook: Healthcare Industry, indicates that cybersecurity (77 percent), Big Data analytics (72 percent) and AI (59 percent) are the top three digital technologies most utilised by healthcare firms today. The survey included companies from seven countries across the world, including India.
The survey was conducted among 115 respondents from the healthcare industry to understand the top digital technology trends that would make the greatest impact on their business over the next three years. On an average, each respondent from the healthcare sector had four trends in their list of what would make a significant impact on their organisation in the next three years.
Of the 12 surveyed trends, the top healthcare trends for the next three years included Big Data predicts and prevents, electronic health record systems get a makeover, and hospital care turns remote. However, when the survey asked respondents if they were equipped to implement the top technology trend, majority said they possibly needed to improve their skills (92 percent) and their technologies further (85 percent).
In terms of investment, the survey stated that healthcare providers plan to invest in digital technologies in the next 12 months. According to the healthcare companies surveyed, investing in technologies like Big Data analytics for predicting risk and onset of health problems and remote hospital-like care delivery were some of the most reported trends for the next three years.
“Going forward, Big Data will transform the way healthcare industry monitors and treats patients,” stated the report.
Several healthcare firms are also investing in Electronic Health Records (EHR) if patients as paper-based medical files are becoming “obsolete”, it said.
According to the report, nearly 76 percent of the life sciences firms that were surveyed considered investing in cyber security over the next three years for protecting patient data.
“Analysts predict that by 2019, $75 billion will be spent worldwide on information technology (IT) related to remote delivery of healthcare through video conferencing, mobile, e-mail etc,” mentioned the report.
3D-printing, blockchain technology and Internet of Things (IoT) were among the other technologies that could improve the healthcare industry, as assessed by the report.
