D Health looks to be industry catalyst

The general public are losing out on the opportunity to take ownership of their health and wellbeing because innovative digital healthcare devices and services aren’t reaching the market place, according to healthcare consultancy, D Health.

The company and over 100 senior representatives from the healthcare industry raised this concern at the launch of a new market accelerator programme at the Royal Society of Medicine in London last night.

Led by D Health, the Catalyst aims to create a successful market place by recruiting 150 organisations from the public, private and third sector, including the NHS, SMEs, blue chip firms and investors. So far, 30 organisations have signed up, including household names such as Johnson and Johnson’s LifeScan and Celisio (owners of Lloyds Pharmacy).

D Health believes that creating a platform where these organisations can collaborate is key to making digital healthcare technology affordable, accessible and successful in the future. Third sector organisations, telecommunications companies and high street retailers in particular could play an important role in helping consumers access the wide range of digital healthcare devices and services that are already available or currently in development.

Dr Steven Dodsworth, CEO at D Health, commented: “Most of us have heard about apps that reward people for performing beneficial behaviours, web portals that enable patients to book appointments or order prescriptions and devices that track and monitor patients remotely. Despite the potential of such technology to reduce costs, increase efficiency and empower patients, success has largely been limited to short term pilots in the NHS.

“With unprecedented challenges such as the ageing population and increasing prevalence of lifestyle related disease facing our healthcare systems, technology offers the best platform for creating sustainable health and care services that will encourage people to take ownership of their health. We need to learn from the retail market and apply this to healthcare so we can provide affordable and effective services that will become valuable additions to people’s lives.

“This industry also represents a significant opportunity for businesses as it has relevance to consumers and healthcare providers, not just in the UK but across the world. Through the Catalyst, D Health aims to connect the best organisations across the UK and Europe to promote trade and drive at-scale adoption of digital healthcare services.”