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While an appreciation of the central role that diagnostics play in European healthcare has increased substantially in recent years, diagnostics companies still face many challenges in the design, development, funding, regulation and adoption of new products.
These challenges, together with growing demands on healthcare and a shortage of skilled staff and other resources, have led to growing patient backlogs and highlighted the need for radical transformation of diagnostic services.
More collaborative ways of working and rapid advances in science, technology and data analytics create opportunities to reimagine diagnostic pathways and deliver a more predictive, personalised, preventative and participatory (4P) future for patients, and a more cost-effective future for health systems.
Our pair of reports explores the future of diagnostics in Europe:
Our experts are joined by Dr Krishan Ramdoo, CEO of TympaHealth and Stephen Lee, Director at ABHI, to discuss this fascinating topic.
Given the acceleration of advances in science, technology, miniaturisation, and advanced analytics, Deloitte believe the future of diagnostics is integral to the future of health and this co-dependency will transform the future of diagnostics and in turn help realise the future of health. We have envisioned how three patient pathways might look in the future, and how these would contribute to a more predictive, preventative, personalised and participatory (4P) future of health.
Current pathway challenges
Current pathway challenges
Disruptive technologies will transform diagnostics over the next five to ten years
Among the clinician respondents to our survey, 63 per cent suggested that as the healthcare sector transitions from a focus on acute intervention to one centred around prevention and wellness, the future of diagnostics will look somewhat different in 3-5 years’ time, and two-thirds think it will look 'a great deal' or 'totally' different in 6-10 years’ time.
Our survey of clinicians found that the top three most important changes needed to improve the future of diagnostics are:
The technologies expected to transform the future of diagnostic pathways
Digitalisation, robotisation and automation are giving rise to smart laboratories and smart imaging systems that can readily handle the increasing demands from healthcare providers and consumers at greater speed and lower cost. Our research has identified technologies that are already enhancing diagnosis, and those that are likely to transform diagnosis in the future.
Crucial trends that will shape the future of diagnostics, include widespread adoption of biosensors and a growth in the use of companion diagnostics; increased adoption of liquid biopsies; direct to consumer testing and automation; and the transformation of pathology and radiology using AI and advanced analytics.
Partnerships with consumer technology companies will help shape this future and help to transform clinical pathways. Collaborations will also be essential in designing new value-based payment models that reward all partners for health outcomes and better management of prevention, early detection, and wellness.