Challenges faced by the health care system

Clear trends can be seen in the demographic development of the population structure: People are getting older, and elderly people comprise an ever increasing percentage of the total population. As a result, costs in many of the world’s health care systems are growing. Furthermore, a steady supply of financing from later generations is, for the most part, not guaranteed. Ideas are being sought on how existing solutions can be optimized in such a way that boosts performance while keeping costs to a minimum. An impossible feat? By no means – a holistic evaluation here often makes possible what would otherwise seem impossible.

Historical and, in many cases, inefficient links and work practices between all participants of the health care system, between for example, GPs, radiological practices, hospitals, pharmacies and health insurance suppliers, need to be examined and improved. Isolated solutions have become obsolete; measures for optimizing work procedures that are already tried and proven in industry, in combination with information technology, are also required in the health care system. Improved efficiency and quality with simultaneous cost savings can only be achieved through a continuous information and data flow along the entire process chain – from prevention to diagnosis and therapy to follow-up. Technological innovations help diagnose diseases earlier and speed up interventions. It is in the combination of both levers – innovation and process optimization – where the greatest potential can be found for facing the challenges.