In-vitro diagnostics – Navigating into the future

The importance of in-vitro diagnostic testing has been emphasized by its recent pivotal role during Covid-19 pandemic. The Test, Test, Test guideline issued by the WHO officials stressed on the importance of testing for Covid-19 diagnosis and control. The pandemic also ushered in a technological revolution in digitizing healthcare that would mark a watershed in the IVD industry. As we witness rising awareness toward the right diagnosis, the population as a whole seems to have understood the fact that even though diagnostics amount merely to about 5 percent of the finances spent on healthcare, they are critical to the success of the treatment.

The metamorphosis that the IVD industry has undergone during the pandemic has been an interesting one. The sudden surge in the demand for quick and accurate testing during the pandemic had to be matched by unique and highly scalable models. Although this had normalized as early as in Q3 of 2020, till date, we are witnessing new permutations being built and new frontiers being breached by the industry each day. Even as we stand at a moment on the cusp of a huge transition in the industry, certain trends and future growth areas have become clearer than ever. In this article, I have aimed to explore the industry scenario in the future and especially its growth in the South Asian subcontinent.

Future trends
As we discuss the future trends in IVD through both an industrial as well as a professional perspective, we should bear in mind an overarching trend toward patient-centered and patient-driven care. One of the most important ways in which this trend has manifested is as point-of-care diagnostics that has shown a potential to be an imminent part of the mainstream in the near future. Use of wearable devices leading to early detection that includes continuous monitoring of various health parameters using biosensors that may be worn by the user or even be implantable has become a fast-growing field. Additionally, the inclusion of recent ramifications of IT, IoT, artificial intelligence, and machine learning into IVD would help India to fill the shortage of pathologists. This will also help in providing affordable and accessible healthcare in remote locations. We already have an example of AI in radiodiagnosis to guide our way for replication in IVD.

The importance of these technologies from an operational standpoint seems indispensable. These technologies would lead to a greater automation of processes. Such automation has proven to be a savior in the time of pandemic when the sustainability of the industry was dependent on efficient and automated processes rather than on people. Use of AI and neural networks in histopathological testing, especially in image analysis automation, is another use of technology in making diagnosis more precise and meticulous.

The government has also acknowledged the importance of technology in its emphasis on digital healthcare in the National Digital Health Mission, and has played an exemplary role for the Indian healthcare ecosystem. Also, as the industry gears toward a hi-tech future, the arrival of web 3.0 and blockchain technology in the industry seems inevitable.

Looking at the industrial perspective, two diverse trends that may be seen in the market are consolidation and personalization. Consolidation would be advantageous to the users as it would increase quality and eventually lead to integration of healthcare services that are presently working in silos and provide holistic care platforms. On the other hand, there is an increasing need to develop personalized patient-care approaches and a trust-based service that is much cherished and provides a human touch to healthcare. A balancing act between integration, scale, and personalization of services would be important as the new tech-driven IVD industry comes of age.

Outlook
IVD has proven to be a lifesaving blessing to mankind in the pandemic, and would keep touching human lives in the future. A general increase in awareness about the importance of good health post Covid has led to an increased focus on diagnostics. A vibrant industry full of innovations awaits us in the future. The present trends point toward an industry that is full of possibilities and a promise in the times to come, one that is not only high-tech but also high-touch. This will ensure that the importance of trust and empathy between a patient and his doctor remains paramount, because at the end of the day it is not just a sample but a human being.