Embracing Digital Health: A Path to Innovation in Canada

This week, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) - the world's largest technology conference - is taking place in Las Vegas. CES is an annual event that is highly influential and defines the industry in consumer electronics and technology. This year, the focus of the conference is digital health. Given the challenges faced by the healthcare system in the past three years due to pandemic protocols and public health measures, this is a timely opportunity to bring together industry professionals, innovators, and the general public to address one of the world's biggest problems.

During CES 2023, the use of digital health technologies to reduce costs, increase health equity, and save lives will be examined. The conference will include presentations and discussions on the future of sports health technology, improving access to care, and the potential for at-home testing and diagnosis. Startups working to innovate in the fields of digital health and fintech will also have the opportunity to pitch their ideas, and there will be a speaker spotlight on the role of artificial intelligence in patient care in the future.

In Canada, there is often little discussion about problem-solving or innovation in the healthcare system, which is frequently characterized by long wait times, capacity issues, and patient transfers. Recently, Kieran Murphy of the Toronto Star wrote an article titled "Canada's health-care system inhibits innovation by design. The result is medical mediocrity."

The article argues that Canada's healthcare system stifles innovation and produces subpar results because it is socialized, centrally controlled, and administrator-led, which can prioritize maintaining the status quo over embracing new treatments and technologies. This is a common challenge faced by organizations seeking to be more innovative.

As a result, Canadians may miss out on new treatments and techniques available in other countries, such as the United States. According to Murphy, innovation in healthcare is more likely to occur in systems that are led by physicians and operate for profit, as they are more open to adopting new technologies and techniques to attract patients. This raises the question of what a socialized, centrally controlled, administrator-led system could do to innovate and deliver better results for Canadians.

One approach for Canada could be to double down on design-led innovation methods and frameworks:

1. Human-centered co-design: By including patients, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders in the design process, we can ensure that the solutions developed are relevant to the needs and experiences of system users, increasing the likelihood of adoption.
2. Prototyping and testing: Using design principles, we can quickly prototype and test new solutions in a healthcare setting, allowing for continuous improvement and a higher chance of success.
3. Collaboration: Design principles can encourage collaboration between various stakeholders, such as healthcare providers, policymakers, and industry, to identify problems and develop solutions to address them.
4. Sustainability: Design principles can be used to create solutions that are sustainable and consider the long-term impact on the healthcare system.

By using these methods, we can unlock the innovative potential of our healthcare and research systems.

1. Government funding for research and development: The government can provide funding for research and development projects in the healthcare sector, leading to the creation of new treatments and technologies. For instance, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States is a government agency that funds biomedical research and development, and has funded numerous projects that have resulted in the development of new treatments and technologies, such as the COVID-19 vaccine.
2. Collaboration between the public and private sectors: The public sector can work with the private sector to stimulate innovation in healthcare. For example, the government can offer incentives to private companies to develop new technologies or treatments that could be used in the public healthcare system. The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) in the UK was established to encourage collaboration between the public sector and small businesses to develop new technologies and solutions for the healthcare system.
3. Public-private partnerships: Public-private partnerships can also be a way to encourage innovation in a socialized healthcare system. In these partnerships, the government collaborates with private companies or organizations to jointly develop and implement new treatments or technologies. In Canada, the Public-Private Partnerships (P3) Canada Fund has been established to provide funding for public-private partnerships in the healthcare sector. One example of a P3 project is the Bruyère Continuing Care Redevelopment Project, which is a partnership between the government and a private company to build a new healthcare facility in Ottawa.
4. Fostering a culture of innovation: Administrators and policymakers can also create a culture of innovation within the healthcare system by encouraging and rewarding creativity and risk-taking among healthcare professionals. This could include providing training and resources to support innovation and recognizing innovative work. In Singapore, the National Innovation Challenge (NIC) has been established to encourage innovation in the healthcare sector. The NIC provides funding and support for healthcare professionals to develop and test new ideas and solutions.
5. Embracing digital health: The healthcare system can also adopt digital health solutions, such as telemedicine and electronic health records, which can improve efficiency and drive innovation. In India, the National Digital Health Mission has been launched to digitize the healthcare system and improve access to healthcare through the use of digital technologies, such as telemedicine and electronic health records.

In conclusion, digital health technologies have the potential to improve healthcare outcomes and increase accessibility for patients around the world. CES 2023 will bring together industry professionals, innovators, and the general public to address the challenges facing the healthcare system and explore ways to utilize digital technologies to lower costs, improve health equity, and save lives. While Canada's healthcare system may face challenges in fostering innovation, there are several methods and frameworks that could be implemented to unlock the innovative potential of the healthcare and research systems, including human-centered co-design, prototyping and testing, collaboration, and sustainability. By embracing digital health solutions, encouraging collaboration between the public and private sectors, and fostering a culture of innovation, Canada's healthcare system can work towards better outcomes for patients and the community.