New collaborative approaches must ensure health now and into the future

More innovative solutions need to be developed to enable the delivery of health in new ways, as highlighted by the Danish Regions at the recent Scaling Health Conference.

Similar sentiments have been echoed repeatedly across the healthcare sector in recent years. The demand for new solutions is driven, among other factors, by an aging population and an increase in the number of individuals with chronic illnesses, placing significant pressure on the healthcare sector in and outside Denmark.

The global market for technological solutions focusing on prevention and personalised treatment is experiencing significant growth. Our expectation is that the market will reach £478 billion by 2030, a growth of 21.5 percent.

The market trend is that the awareness of health and well-being is expanding; more diseases and areas of prevention overlap, and there’s a greater focus on the overall needs of end-users in health, prevention, and treatment. End-users are increasingly seeking solutions to help them achieve better and easier access to prevention, improved health, and overall quality of life – alongside targeted treatment for their specific situations. Whether it’s pharmaceuticals, technology, insurance, or public services, expectations are that individual services are more integrated, providing a coherent service that matches one’s own needs.

These expectations place demands on public institutions, technology suppliers, pharmaceutical and medicine companies, insurance firms, and others. In a recent survey by PA Consulting, 65 percent of international healthcare sector leaders anticipated that provision of solutions with service offerings rather than individual products will increase by 50 percent by 2030.

For example, we see that the pharmaceutical and medicine industry are not only providers of drugs and equipment but also trusted advisors to individuals on health and care. Individuals have the opportunity to track their health data, monitor the progress of their treatment, and access personal support and guidance through interactive patient support programmes.

Additionally, technology companies are more than providers of IT systems. They are crucial links that connect technology with care, health, and insight for development.

And public institutions must also be able to develop policies and build new paradigms for welfare and health, for instance, when facilitating partnerships for the development of health-promotion initiatives.

It’s evident that the healthcare ecosystem is undergoing significant change. More actors are entering the market, and roles are shifting. This requires good understanding and insight to navigate the system, calling for new and different forms of collaboration.

The following three initiatives are key priorities:

1. Clarify common goals for successful collaboration

Secure alignment on what the collaboration’s goal should be, based on end-users’ needs – is it, for example, a new service offering or business model? Are you focusing on prevention or treatment? Common goals for success and shared incentives are what create value.

2. Foster collaboration across organisational boundaries

Prioritise cultivating networks across organisations. Be clear about individual and shared strategic priorities. Design a robust collaboration model with defined responsibilities, competencies, and decision-making processes.

3. Establish a simple governance structure

Build trust through simple structures for organisation and governance. Start small and focus on strengthening cohesion to foster trust and engagement. Continuously develop and scale collaboration with an eye on changes in individual roles and responsibilities.

There's no doubt that our health is shaped by innovation and collaboration, presenting an incredible opportunity to transform our healthcare system. Let’s come together, break boundaries, and shape a future where health isn’t just a service but an integral part of our lives, benefiting us all.

Read the original article in Danish in Finans.