Healthcare of the future: smarter, more connected, more humane

What trends and technological innovations will change healthcare the most over the next 10 to 20 years?

One factor that is often underestimated is user experience (UX). Digital health is increasingly moving away from hardware and towards the user-friendly presentation of health data. Complex information must be translated into intuitive recommendations for action that are suitable for everyday use - whether in consumer applications or in medical technology. In the hospital environment in particular, an improved UX could significantly reduce the workload of doctors and nurses by prioritising critical alarms and providing clear recommendations for action. This makes UX a strategic success factor: those who invest in it have a clear competitive advantage.

What role will prevention play in the healthcare of the future?

The problem with prevention is its invisibility - we only see what doesn't happen. Digital technologies can help by integrating prevention into everyday life and making it tangible through positive feedback loops. However, successful approaches need to go beyond simple tracking apps and create health-promoting digital and physical environments.

How could digital technologies change the relationship between patients and healthcare professionals?

A growing number of people are taking their health into their own hands - often because they don't find enough support in the traditional system. They see their doctor's appointment, their yoga class and their Apple Watch as equally important components of their health. This is changing the doctor-patient relationship to a partnership model, where healthcare professionals increasingly need to act as guides to healthy living.

What opportunities and risks do you see in the use of AI in medicine?

AI can revolutionise diagnostics and therapy, but the hype often distracts from the practical applications. It is not only important that the technology works, but that it is integrated into everyday clinical practice in a meaningful way. The real revolution lies in making the most of existing technologies today, rather than waiting for the 'next big thing'.

Will we go to the doctor at all in the future, or will we do everything digitally?

Screens will not replace visits to the doctor, but they will complement them. Traditional healthcare will increasingly be complemented by digital, specialised services - from health apps and telemedicine to personalised prevention programmes. Healthcare is becoming a flexible ecosystem that adapts to individual needs.

How could big data revolutionise personalised medicine?

It is not the amount of data that matters, but the way it is processed. User-friendly applications transform health data into specific, personalised recommendations for action. The challenge is to use this data in a way that empowers patients, rather than overwhelming them with numbers or creating health anxiety.

How can we avoid a digital divide in healthcare?

The real problem is not access to digital tools, but the ability to use them wisely. Many people get their health information from dubious social media sources. Providers should build digital health literacy directly into their platforms to empower users to make informed decisions.

What are the barriers to integrating digital solutions into the healthcare system?

The excuse of 'data protection' is often used to block innovation. Other countries show that privacy and digital innovation do not have to be a contradiction.

Estonia is leading the way: A centralised platform allows citizens to share their health data securely and in compliance with the GDPR. Finland uses a clear legal framework to make health data available for both healthcare and research. And Denmark has set up a national system to ensure the secure exchange of patient data between healthcare providers.

It is often not the legal framework that is lacking, but the political will and the necessary structures.

What will the ideal healthcare system look like in 2050?

Healthcare no longer starts in hospitals, but where people live. Instead of reactive disease control, the focus will be on a proactive system that promotes health and quality of life. Digital technologies will support informed decisions without replacing human expertise.

Will medicine eventually make all diseases preventable?

The exciting question is not whether we will become immortal, but how we can extend healthy life years for everyone.

The focus has rightly shifted from extending lifespan to extending healthspan. The exciting question is not whether we will one day become immortal, but how we can enable everyone to live a healthy, active life.

The future of digital health lies not only in anti-aging technologies, but in holistic systems that actively support health - from smart urban structures to social health promotion.