Technological advancements, especially in software and generative artificial intelligence (AI), are poised to transform healthcare, according to Dileep Mangsuli, executive director and head of the Development Centre at Siemens Healthineers. Speaking at the Mint Digital Innovation Summit 2024 in Mumbai, Mangsuli stressed the urgent need for healthcare innovation as the global population grows.

The world’s population reached 8 billion last year and is expected to reach 9 billion within the next seven years, underscoring the need to address existing healthcare challenges, Mangsuli noted. “With the population rising, nearly 73% of deaths worldwide are caused by non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cancer, stroke, and cardiovascular diseases. This has highlighted a huge challenge as to how it can be managed," he said. Siemens Healthineers, a global healthcare services firm headquartered in Germany, has been actively working to build solutions that improve healthcare access worldwide.

Mangsuli pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted ongoing challenges in healthcare accessibility, contrasting sharply with pre-pandemic perceptions that healthcare was no longer a significant issue. The world is projected to face a shortage of healthcare workers by 2030, further exacerbating the crisis. “In 1978, when WHO had declared ‘health for all’ by the year 2000, everyone thought this achievable. But in 2020, the pandemic was a reality check," he added.

Integrating technology in healthcare will be crucial to bridge these gaps, Mangsuli said. Siemens Healthineers is developing the concept of a digital twin to enhance the understanding and treatment of human health. This digital twin allows clinicians to experiment with treatments and determine optimal solutions.

Additionally, a smartphone application linked to the digital twin can help users detect health concerns early before they become serious. Smartwatches and health ring data can train the digital twin, potentially improving early healthcare detection. “The idea is to move from disease management to health and wellness management, which can be a game-changer in the future," Mangsuli noted.