Technological Innovation for Health

Successful health care delivery requires effective medical devices as tools for prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. As the digital and genetics revolutions converge with healthcare we are increasingly able to track, manage, and improve both our own health and that of our loved ones. Technological innovation in the field of health is also helping to reduce inefficiencies in healthcare delivery, while at the same time streamlining access, reducing costs, improving quality and making medicine more personalized and precise.

The essential elements that are making this development a reality include wireless devices, hardware sensors and software sensing technologies, microprocessors and integrated circuits, the Internet, social networking, mobile and body area networks, health information technology, genomics, and personal genetic information.

Despite the exponential growth of scientific and technological development, low- and middle-income countries are still largely excluded from access to appropriate and affordable health technologies. Therefore novel technological devices need to be developed that can address health problems and improve quality of life. Of particular interest are technologies that have the ability to enhance the access to essential health products and services leading to improved health for the population most in need.