In-vitro diagnostics – Breaching the frontiers

A lot has been prophesied about diagnostics of the future, and the direction that the industry shall take. Many voices suggest that data and technology are poised to be the drivers of the in-vitro diagnostics domain. However, I believe that the key thrust would come not only from technology, but equally from the user, who is as likely to be a healthy recipient of healthcare as being an ailing patient who requires care. In such a scenario, technology is poised to act as a catalyst in the ascent toward a more user-centric industry. It is this tech-consumer interaction that would determine the future of diagnostics.

Democratization of diagnostics. Democratization of healthcare has often been limited to discussions around accessibility and afford­ability. However, even after the access and affordability of healthcare has been substantially achieved, healthcare remains as alien to the users as before. The story about diagnostics is no different. Even as the reach of diagnostics has increased, and there has been a rapid deinstitutionalization of diagnostics from labs to home or workplace, there is a need for participatory healthcare where the patient is a participant in diagnostics and a user in true sense rather than a subject of it. The point-of-care diagnostics is a prime example of an integrated approach that is the need of the hour. Such an approach brings healthcare, inclusive of all the specialties, closer to the user in a way that it needs to be consumed, and prevents unnecessary hassle of moving from one provider to another. With the emergence of MedTech, IoT, and easy-to-use digital platforms, the amalgamated healthcare approach is the one that is bound to have the highest impact on user journey in healthcare.

A future of wellness. Awareness toward wellness and disease prevention has improved owing to the tailwind of the pandemic. With an increased keenness on good health, people have become more sensitive toward the baseline parameters that provide a bird’s eye view of their health. Early prevention and continuous monitoring of such health parameters, and especially achieving a continuum in terms of health data, is an important need that the diagnostic industry needs to address. Obtaining and analyzing real-time user-related data, using ubiquitous sensors and artificial intelligence, would contribute to this substantially. Such user-driven and tech-based systems would enable timely preventive interventions, and may be a significant thrust area in the future.

An eye on safety. While we consider user participation and data-based solutions, one of the major challenges to its effective and successful implementation is safety, both in terms of individual safety as well as data safety. A service design that incorporates individual safety into its processes will be required. On the other hand, data safety and confidentiality measures will become indispensable. Developing these safety measures will be an important endeavor in the future diagnostics.

Ubiquitous diagnostics. Newer wearable technology platforms that are bringing diagnostics to people’s pockets and their mobile phones or computers hold a promise to become the new norm for interaction between diagnostic service providers and their patients. Wearables have already been adopted in a big way among people. Advent of the Apple watch and other smart watches as an interface between users and providers with incorporated sensors and platforms hold a substantial promise in the future. Development of other sensor-based wearable diagnostic technologies will hold the key for diagnostics in the years to come.

Outlook. A user-centric and technology-integrated approach shall drive the future of diagnostics. Understanding user needs and aspirations, developing product and services around user requirements, and adoption of seamless design and easy-to-use, yet sophisticated technology, shall be the game changers in this apparent metamorphosis of the IVD industry.