Health insurance from Apple, speaking to the deceased and more.
The latest ideas, people, innovations and technologies that are shaping the future of healthcare.
Hi, Kevin McDonnell here. Thank you for reading my latest newsletter. Every week I share my round-up of the most interesting stories from the world of Digital Health so you can find the ideas, people, innovations and technologies that are shaping the future of healthcare. I hope you enjoy them! Happy reading!
------------------------------
India’s Digital Health Ecosystem Is An Unparalleled Opportunity - Boasting one of the largest social health programs in the world, in addition to incredible research and development facilities, the country has become a powerhouse. The HealthTech market is expected to grow from US$10.6 billion in 2022 to US$21.3 billion by 2025.
Our Apple Watch’s SpO2 sensor might be better than you thought - According to a recent study, the Apple Watch’s blood oxygen reader is comparable to medical-grade pulse oximeters. Although Apple Watches shouldn’t be used in lieu of official medical devices, it’s nice to know that the readings they’re displaying are accurate enough to be reliable.
Gaming linked to enhanced cognitive function in children - According to a study of nearly 2,000 children, those who played video games for three hours per day or more performed better on cognitive skills tests involving impulse control and working memory compared to children who had never played video games.
Babylon and Bupa extend partnership for digital health services - Bupa, a leading health insurer, and Babylon have been in partnership since 2015, when access to the Babylon app for Bupa UK customers was launched. Since launch, there have been over 360,000 Babylon app downloads by Bupa UK Insurance customers.
Will AI robots cure the loneliness epidemic? - From Star Wars’ loveable Droid R2-D2 to the belching, boisterous Bender in Futurama, robot companions have been a staple of science fiction for decades. As AI advances at a rapid pace and more and more of us welcome robots into our homes, could robots help combat loneliness?
Healthcare tech giant Philips scraps 4,000 staff worldwide - Philips is scrapping 4,000 staff worldwide amid the fallout from a recall of sleep apnea machines and economic headwinds, the company announced Monday as it unveiled a 1.3 billion euro ($1.28 billion) third-quarter net loss. The job cuts amount to about 5% of the company’s global workforce and are expected to save it 300 million euros annually
Consolidation in psychedelics starts as Beckley and Eleusis combine - companies developing therapies based on psychedelic drugs have sprung up like magic mushrooms in the last few years as pathways to regulatory approval became more organised, backed by investors who also bought into the promise of medicines that could treat people with intractable depression and other psychiatric conditions.
The world’s riskiest connected devices including X-ray machines, ATMs and patient monitors - The research, which was collated from 19 million devices deployed across five different industries, has revealed that the riskiest device groups include smart buildings, medical devices, networking equipment, and IP cameras, VoIP and video conferencing systems.
Apple Will Launch Health Insurance In 2024 - CCS Insight believes that Apple will take its tentative first steps into the U.S. health insurance market in partnership with a major insurer, using the health data it’s already collecting to give it a competitive edge over rivals.
Digital clones” of our deceased loved ones - According to Californian company with their app, HereAfter AI, the grieving process can be helped along by “speaking” to dead loved ones, via a complex AI algorithm which, essentially, has built a cyber clone of the deceased.
------------------------------
You might like these articles from the previous edition:
What CVS’s Signify Health acquisition means for the future of healthcare
Technology linking care homes to clinical advice hubs reduces A&E attendances
Employers Are Using Digital Technology To Improve Healthcare ROI
Don't forget you can sign up for my other newsletter The Future of Leadership - for the latest leadership strategies, trends and expert insights to help businesses and people grow and thrive.