- 81%
of respondents say technology has improved their access to health services
- 71%
believe that in the future they will be more reliant on technology to improve
their personal health and wellbeing
- Prudential's
new Asia-wide study recommends increased public-private co-operation to maximise
the benefits of digital health technologies
HONG KONG SAR
- Media OutReach - 11
January 2021 - Prudential Corporation Asia (Prudential) today released The
Pulse of Asia -- The Health of Asia Barometer, a report written by The Economist
Intelligence Unit (EIU), which underscores the unprecedented opportunity
offered by digital health technologies to improve access to healthcare in Asia.
The research,
which explores attitudes to healthcare in Asia, highlights the demand for tools
and services to help people in the region better navigate the healthcare
system. It also highlights the opportunity for governments to
partner with the private sector to maximise the potential of digital
healthcare.
High rates of digital
health technology adoption
The report, which
surveyed 5,000 adults across 13 markets in Asia, found
that only around half of respondents (54%) believe that medical care is
accessible and affordable. More concerningly, less than a quarter (22%) say
they can easily access exercise and fitness facilities that would help improve
their personal health and wellness in the coming year.
However, the Asia-wide
research also underlines the potential of technology to directly combat these
challenges. Over four fifths (81%) of respondents say technology has already improved
their access to health services and nearly two thirds (60%) believe it has
improved the affordability.
And this consumer
appetite towards the digitisation of health shows no sign of abating - three
years from now 71% of those surveyed said they will rely on technology even
more heavily to improve their personal health and wellbeing.
Public-private action to improve healthcare
To fulfil the potential of digital healthcare, the
report recommends greater public-private collaboration, suggesting that governments partner with private companies
to deliver digitally-innovative ways to promote and manage health and wellness
among citizens.
The report also highlights the
opportunity for governments to improve public health information through
digital channels. According to the research, social media is the most
frequently cited source of personal health and wellness information. However,
the survey respondents overwhelmingly agreed that the most trustworthy sources are
national government and public health authorities. Governments can seize the
opportunity by becoming the most reliable source of quality health information
for citizens.
The report also recommends that
governments look to promote connected health devices, but that these need to be
underpinned by strict data governance. Data security will enable health data to
be safely centralised, empowering governments to design better policies and
build more targeted healthcare infrastructure.
Nic Nicandrou, Chief Executive of Prudential Corporation Asia, commented,
"This ground-breaking research demonstrates that while Asia has already begun
to embrace digital health technologies, the region is still some way from realising
the full potential technology has to offer. The private and public sectors need
to come together to make these opportunities a reality, and in doing so, improve
health and wellness outcomes for individuals.
"Making digital healthcare a
reality is an integral part of our efforts at Prudential. Through our app, Pulse by Prudential, we have linked up with partners
at the forefront of innovation to deliver health information and guidance, as
well as provide access to medical professionals. Our goal in doing this is to enable people to live well, for longer."
Charles Ross, Editorial Director from
the EIU, commented, "Our research shows that to
make health and wellbeing more accessible and affordable, the public and
private sectors need to come together to seize the initiative. A key way to do
this is by breaking down 'data silos' between disparate healthcare services and
creating secure connections between health apps, devices and centralised
digital patient records."
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