The greater deterioration of the public health system’s image stems from the population’s difficulty in accessing services for consultations, exams, hospitalizations or surgeries. This situation can be further complicated by the imbalance in the incorporation of technologies between the public and private sectors.
The population watches advertisements from the private sector using technologies to serve their customers and, inevitably, compares it with the care they receive in the SUS. This poses the challenge to the public system of how to take ownership of these services digitization initiatives.
The ongoing technological transformation is already profoundly altering the health service delivery process. This fact calls on society to seek a solution to two urgent issues: increasing the speed of incorporation of technologies in SUS services and establishing partnerships with the private sector, in order to take advantage of its creative effort and investment in the digitalization of health services. .
In a few years, the country will implement a connectivity infrastructure that will enable a series of health services. From 2022, 5G technology should already be available in Brazilian capitals and by December 2029 it should reach all Brazilian municipalities. The connection speed can be up to 100 times faster than the current 4G. Latency, the time it takes for a sent signal or data packet to reach its destination, goes from 50 to 70 milliseconds on 4G to 1 to 5 milliseconds on 5G.
Hyperconnectivity allows up to one million devices to be connected per square kilometer. The development of the “Internet of Things” (IOT) and the storage of information in the cloud should provide an evolution of remote patient monitoring, remote surgeries and more interactivity in teleconsultations.
The possibilities for using IOT technologies are so vast in the health area that the trend even got its own name: IoMT, or “Internet of Medical Things”.
The monitoring of the patient’s vital signs can be done almost in real time, through wearables, which are “wearable” devices, such as smart watches and bracelets, capable of collecting various signals and information from the body. Since not all wearables are considered medical instruments, there are also sensors, which help in the remote monitoring of patients with chronic diseases. These technologies make it possible to advance an important issue for the future of health care, which is assisted self-care.
There are already startups developing software that allow operators to work in primary care for personalized clinical care for their customers. Some aim to offer consultations with prices between R$20 and R$60, focusing on serving part of the 75% of citizens who depend on SUS.
The number of health startups (healthtechs) went from 542 in 2020 to 1,158 in 2021, showing the interest of entrepreneurs in the subject. This entire process of digitization of the private sector could increase the fragmentation of the SUS if there is no public health policy that incorporates these initiatives.
The good news is that the country already has a digital health strategy with a horizon of 2020/2028. One of the most important projects is the RNDS – National Health Data Network –part of the Connect SUS Program– which establishes the concept of a standardized, modern and interoperable platform for services, information and connectivity. The objective is to promote the exchange of information between the points of the Health Care Network (RAS), allowing the transition and continuity of care in the public and private sectors, sharing information between all clinical instances that serve the patient, whether for diagnosis, therapy or emergency care.
However, only the interoperability of information systems of public and private providers does not solve all the problems of health care for the population. This can increase the efficiency of the current system, but it does not resolve issues such as universality, integrality, health surveillance and access to medicines.
Will the digitization of health services in the private sector be a threat or an opportunity for the development of a single, public and universal system? to see.
Chad-98Weaver, a distinguished author at NewsBulletin247, excels in the craft of article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a penchant for storytelling, Chad delivers informative and engaging content that resonates with readers across various subjects. His contributions are a testament to his dedication and expertise in the field of journalism.
