Platforms and Health
Health Care Provider would connect with you now !
Who would have thought FaceBook opening up its tech for developing strategies for Covid19 research OR Google and Apple coordinating to create an OS level integration for contact tracing apps of Public Health Authorities across the world.
Welcome to the new phase of Platform Driven Health Care interventions. It is time to tackle the latest crisis to hit humanity through tech enabled platforms who are leveraging their core competencies to provide health care access to all.
DTW
During the week, we got more grim news when we crossed the tally of 5,00,000 Covid19 cases in India. This has become an unprecedented health and economic crisis for the entire humanity and developing countries like India are susceptible to forgo decades of gains made in health, education and poverty alleviation in just few months.We could definitely leverage on technology and specifically technology enabled platforms to mitigate some of the negative impact of Covid-19 and provide healthcare access to millions. They have the potential to leverage on network effects either same side or even cross side. Platforms can provide value through three types of interfaces- First, Health Service Providers with Users; Second, amongst Health Service Providers and Third, amongst Users themselves .
First, platforms have made it efficient to connect with customers at scale both for disseminating and collecting information. Tech Platforms including AAFGM (Apple Amazon Facebook Google Microsoft ) have stepped up their efforts in leveraging their core competencies of scale and customer engagement. Facebook and Google have been proactive in creating spaces for reliable Covid19 related information. In a previous issue of this newsletter, I have discussed about the role of platforms in stopping the spread of Covid-19 related misinformation. Both Google and Facebook have also worked with public health authorities in providing overview of Covid-19 including reliable statistics and information about local & national resources. We also see increased use of IoT especially voice controlled devices including Alexa and smartwatches like Apple Watch, Fitbit etc in gathering health data from users. We have online marketplace platforms in India like 1mg, Practo, Lybrate etc who have brought healthcare service providers like doctors, diagnostic centre, pharmacies closer to the users at scale thus facilitating easy discovery and transactions. Telehealth has the potential to make health care accessible to millions of Indians not living in Metro regions.
Second, platforms have enabled more efficient transaction between healthcare service providers. New age online B2B marketplace like MedikaBazaar have brought medical establishments and suppliers together. This has upended the traditional incumbents but has made the smaller MSME far more accessible to large medical supply buyers. Similarly, we have started seeing more collaboration between various tech-platforms like Amazon, Google and Apple to make their devices more compatible and thus increase interoperability across platforms thereby increasing the network effects. COVID-19 High Performance Computing Consortium aims to bring the power of big-tech together to provide range of computing services and expertise that can enhance and accelerate the research for fighting COVID-19.
Third, platforms have enabled more same side network effects from user perspective. Platforms like WebMD have enabled information access and discovery platforms like Practo have made search and review of medical professionals for health seekers. Thousands of data points from millions of patients have been used for creating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning platforms. They are being used for assessing risk, making diagnoses, and offering more effective treatments. Models are made using homogenous health data from richer socio-economic groups and thus using them with under-represented disadvantaged minorities may be perilous. Of course side effects like self-medication or anxiety caused by fake information have put some of these platforms in tight spot.
Ultimately, platforms have turned out to be saviours for lot of people by making it easier to adopt healthier life style. We have seen the rise of fitness tracking apps and smartwatches. In fact , according to a report by AppAnnie , there has been a tremendous growth in download and engagement on the health tracking apps during the #LockDown due to Covid-19. We have reviewed multiple mental health tech platforms in previous issue of the newsletter when hundreds of millions of people have been put through arduous psychological pressure during #LockDown. Of course, health is also determined by access to food supply, housing and nurturing relationships.
Spread Positivity.
OTW
Over the Weekend, I read passages from Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. This book has been one of my favourite about health care and life in general. I always nod in affirmative when he talks about length of life vs quality of life. I think health care has to go through a transformation when we stop focusing on survival and get back to the core principle of enabling well-being.
“A few conclusions become clear when we understand this: that our most cruel failure in how we treat the sick and the aged is the failure to recognize that they have priorities beyond merely being safe and living longer; that the chance to shape one’s story is essential to sustaining meaning in life; that we have the opportunity to refashion our institutions, our culture, and our conversations in ways that transform the possibilities for the last chapters of everyone’s lives.”
― Atul Gawande, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End
I would also like to highlight the extra-ordinary contribution of our health care professionals who have been our first line of defence against the raging corona virus. Let us take a moment to thank all of them by dropping a message at Thank You Caretakers. Please take moment to click on the above link and send a message of gratitude to our health care warriors. They are also loved ones for someone !
Wash Your Hands. Wear a Mask. Maintain Six Feet Distance. Stay Safe.
I Love You.
Shailendra
Sir, your article is always very much informative. At this time of the pandemic, when the whole world is focusing only on one major issue, that is, Covid-19, your article gives us awareness about the steps taken by big companies regarding this. In fact, Amazon has feeded Alexa regarding symptoms of coronavirus so people can take their self-test easily and solve their queries. Companies like AAFGM and Starbucks all are taking different steps to fight with this. To avoid the unwanted hustle with fake information Google come with Google Discover and on Whatsapp My Gov Corona Helpdesk is available to provide accurate and reliable information. These steps of companies provide them thickness and to society new avenues of development.
Never realized how fitness trackers and health related apps could be put to use in this scenario. Great read! 🌞