The Covid-19 pandemic has driven the healthcare industry into a rapid digitization shift, with the rise of telehealth, telepresence systems, remote diagnostics, predictive AI and wearable technology changing the way healthcare is delivered and impacting patient outcomes. has been improved.
New technologies such as AR and VR are becoming more and more commonplace in professional training, surgical assistance, and treatment of psychological and neurological disorders. For pharmaceuticals and medical devices, AR, VR, and AI are rapidly accelerating efficiency in drug discovery, manufacturing, and supply chains. However, commercial penetration and affordability remain limiting factors for widespread adoption of new digital products and opportunities.
Metaverse still too risky for healthcare
Metaverse technology shows the potential to reinvent healthcare approaches and bring new experiences to healthcare providers and patients in the years to come, but adoption is still in its early stages.
For example, the metaverse can improve access to care for all patients, regardless of their location. The use of telemedicine has surged in popularity during Covid-19. Practitioners have found that many conditions can be diagnosed efficiently and quickly without having to physically examine the patient. While not at the same level as at the start of the pandemic, demand for digital solutions to access healthcare services has remained high since then.
VR telemedicine consultations allow patients to access the best experts anywhere, not limited to their physical location. Holoportation could allow doctors and patients to share the same virtual space, and could even allow doctors to examine patients through her 3D projection.
Patients living in remote areas can be seen by medical professionals without having to travel far, potentially greatly improving access to care for the disabled and elderly.
Virtual pharmacies allow patients to pick up prescriptions directly from the Metaverse and have their medications delivered to their physical homes. For example, her US pharmacy chain, CVS, has applied to trademark its pharmacies, virtual goods, and medical services on the Metaverse.
The metaverse depends on access to technology
However, remote access to Metaverse medical services depends on access to the necessary equipment. As the Metaverse is committed to improving access to care for all patients, lack of access to or inability to obtain technology contributes to current inequalities in access to healthcare. contribute further.
Not all patients are open to receiving treatment online or remotely. Older people may find it more difficult to adapt and accept modern technology. The use of telemedicine and the creation of virtual hospitals raises issues of patient confidentiality. Security systems need to be strengthened to ensure that only certain hospital staff have access to patient data.
The metaverse industry must overcome key challenges in healthcare before it can be widely adopted. Proven use cases and evidence of participation by a critical mass of users are essential to convincing a shift in investment in the metaverse. For the metaverse to transform the landscape of the industry, it needs investment and support from healthcare companies.
