Digital health reshaping medical technology: report
NEW YORK, Nov 10: The medical technology (MedTech) industry is being reshaped by digital health and consumers’ expectations to receive care how, when and where they want, according to a new report from Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and AdvaMed.
The report, titled “Digital Health and MedTech - New Signals for Transformation,” based on a global survey of more than 150 MedTech executives, reveals a shift away from traditional healthcare models, with leaders adopting digital health as a core part of their approach to improving patient outcomes. More than three-quarters (75%) of the executives said that expanding care settings will significantly reorient their company’s long-term strategy and change business models.
“Healthcare is at a crossroads, facing unprecedented pressure and disruption - including affordability challenges, shifting patient expectations, and an increasing deluge of health data,” said Tim Durst, a managing director at Accenture who leads the global medical technology sector in the company’s Life Sciences practice. “With a unique understanding of therapeutics, patients and providers, as well as insights gained from digital devices in the hands of patients, MedTech companies are wellpositioned to lead the transformation to digital health. However, companies will need the proper digital foundation to leverage the necessary insights and create a comprehensive digital health solution.”
Challenges
The report notes that developing the right connected products, services and programs for patients and providers remains a hurdle, citing implementation complexity and the lack of the right partners as primary challenges. In addition, nearly nine out of 10 executives (86%) said that technology and collaboration are key to addressing these challenges.
The report identifies five key trends driving the future growth of MedTech:
Scott Whitaker, AdvaMed president and CEO said, “AdvaMed members are at the forefront of innovation and improving patient health outcomes, and we are seeing some of the most exciting advancements in digital health. The report’s findings will help us plan for the future of our industry to ensure we can thrive and grow to meet the needs of the patients who rely on medical devices every day.”
Revenues
Accenture surveyed 150 MedTech senior executives globally (Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Switzerland, UK and US). The respondents were equally distributed across 30 med-tech companies with median 2021 global revenues of nearly US$10 billion.
Two-thirds of the respondents had a tenure of 11-20 years’ experience in the MedTech industry. Accenture also interviewed 30+ C-suite and other senior executives from the MedTech and pharma sectors in AdvaMed’s Digital Health Center of Excellence to confirm survey findings and gain deeper insights. In addition, the researchers analyzed 100 M&A deals and more than 600 product launches from a subset of MedTech companies that took place between January 2019 and March 2022.
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