from other providers , facilitated by a recruitment policy that , over the past five to seven years , has strongly favoured locals over expats .
The future of healthcare Asked what the coming years have in store , Schelper is adamant that the future of healthcare in MEA is extremely bright , not only for the citizens that benefit but also medical tourists , who will continue to provide important revenue streams for various countries .
The vital next step is to apply intelligence to the mountains of data being gathered by EHRs and other systems . For the UAE , already an artificial intelligence pioneer and front-runner with IBM Watson , technologies like blockchain can provide the answer , and Schelper believes this will be in play by 2020 .
“ At the moment we have a lot of health entities that contain data , and over time we need to connect those and bring them to the next level to inject intelligence into that data collective ,” he explains .
“ However , in order to reach the consumer we need a platform on top of the platform , what we call the Internet of Health and Life . This will provide the personalised experience that is so important . I want to be notified when my next vaccinations are due ; that information should be integrated into my calendar . Further still , I want a drone to come to my office and drop off anything I need at a time that works for me . This may sound extremely futuristic and a bit like science fiction , but the technology to make this happen is there today .”
Cerner has a unique opportunity in the MEA region , and Schelper and Adel ’ s next task is to help knock down the trust barrier that could stand in way .
“ We have to overcome the paranoia that surrounds data governance and establish that trust in order to make this a reality . This will allow us to connect technologies and bring healthcare management to the next level ,” Schelper concludes .
364 March 2018