How technology is causing a shift towards preventive health care

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will instruct his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet, and the cause and prevention of disease” - Thomas A. Edison A prediction made about 120 years ago by the founder of the light bulb couldn’t have been more significant today in the field of healthcare, led by the burgeoning potential that technology has to offer in aiding humans along with their medicines and treatments. Preventive health care hence, has the potential to raise funds into much needed healthcare research and contribute to the overall well-being of the nation. The Indian preventive health care sector, which includes the likes of fitness, wellness, supplements, early diagnostics and health tracking, is projected to touch $197 billion by 2025, according to a Redseer report. Preventive health care could create a much needed even playing field for all citizens, while, artificial intelligence will help to collate data of a patient’s medical records, history and current symptoms to make their suggested diagnosis and treatment much better and informed. A Yale University research in April 2022 showed how AI could help health care providers and patients to predict drinking relapses, and adjust treatment even before they occur or even help track how long a person has been sober from drugs and monitor their recovery process, while looking for signs of relapse.