Healthcare has become a priority in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. So, what trends have we seen emerging in the health tech industry this year?

The coronavirus pandemic has made healthcare our biggest priority in 2020. Not only are people more concerned about their physical wellbeing but also healthcare organisations are now under a huge amount of pressure, as more patients need their services more than ever before. Fortunately, we have the power of technology on our side.

Health tech has been massively beneficial in combating COVID-19 and overcoming the challenges it presented medical professionals with. As a result, we have seen several health tech trends emerge in 2020. These are excellent industries for entrepreneurs to invest in and develop start-ups for. But what exactly are the biggest health tech trends we have seen in the year of COVID-19? That’s what we will be discussing in our article today. Read on to find out more.

1.) Wearable Technology

Wearable technology was an emerging market before, but now it has become exceedingly popular among healthcare professionals. This is mainly because these gadgets allow doctors and GPs to remotely monitor their patients, tracking metrics like their blood pressure and glucose levels. Using this information, they can detect certain ailments early on and then intervene before their patient’s condition worsens. Furthermore, wearable technology is an invaluable research tool. Doctors can monitor their patients in their natural environment, as opposed to laboratory conditions.

2.) Artificial Intelligence

For several years, artificial intelligence has been the industry to watch. Now, as medical professionals uncover the potential of AI to deliver better healthcare services, this form of technology has blown up. Artificial intelligence is being applied to everything health tech related; from diagnosis to drug development and data analytics. The investor Tej Kohli recognised the potential of AI in healthcare early on and poured millions of pounds into developing this industry. His funding has contributed to the development of medical robotics and bionic limbs using artificial intelligence.

3.) Telehealth

As we mentioned before, the coronavirus outbreak has presented the healthcare industry with several challenges. For example, GPs must now limit their contact with patients, which has resulted in people with certain ailments going undiagnosed. Fortunately, telehealth has been very helpful in overcoming these obstacles. This technology allows medical professionals to video call their patients, instead of having a face-to-face conversation. It has also allowed doctors and GPs to remotely administer prescriptions. There is still plenty of room for development in the telehealth industry, though, as it is difficult to diagnose someone simply through a video call.

4.) Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is still an emerging trend in the health tech industry. This technology should help to facilitate the training of medical professionals. For example, trainee surgeons are now using VR simulations to practise operations. It is also being used to distract patients who are undergoing painful treatment. Virtual reality is helping doctors to visualise potential obstacles before they conduct major surgeries, too.

These are the biggest health tech trends in 2020. Each of these industries are very prosperous and have a huge amount of potential. We can’t wait to see how they revolutionise global healthcare.