Healthcare Trends
Major drivers of healthcare industry:
Medical facilities worldwide are privatizing – With the increasing demand for quality medical facilities, governments are under increasing pressure to separate healthcare financing from healthcare providers and introducing co-pay and savings plans. This means more private provider facilities financed by private health insurance, savings schemes, and co-pay and prepaid plans.
Asia’s population is rapidly ageing – An ageing population, particularly in China and Hong Kong, demands much heavier healthcare services. The ageing groups are also the segments that have increasing disposable income.
Medical technology is advancing in major disease areas – Recent discoveries in genetics and medical conditions have contributed to greater understanding of disease causes and their treatments. Also, developments in imaging technology and non-invasive procedures have resulted in outpatient diagnostic and treatment protocols that have proven to be effective.
Growing health awareness in an educated society – Education and the internet have contributed greatly to a better informed society in the area of personal health. There is now more emphasis on disease prevention and wellness.
“Consumerization” of healthcare products and services – The discipline of retailing is now being applied to healthcare. Slowly we now see modern marketing of healthcare products and services such as branding and mass marketing, distribution in modern retail environments, identification with leisure and style, and repackaging into merchandisable consumer goods.
