Accenture acquires Nautilus, whats going on in Ireland, 50% of the population predicted to have mental health issues by the age of 75 and more.

Hi, Kevin McDonnell here. Thank you for reading my latest newsletter. Every week I share my round-up of the most interesting stories from the world of Digital Health I've been reading so you can find the ideas, people, innovations and technologies that are shaping the future of healthcare. I hope you enjoy them! Happy reading! Don't forget to follow me or our page for more insights every day.

The Unsettling Decline of Irish Healthcare Startups: A Wake-Up Call for the Emerald Isle - According to a recent report by TechIreland, funding for Irish startups has plummeted by a staggering 40% in the first half of 2023. This decline is affecting various sectors, including healthtech, which saw a 70% drop in funding. The report attributes this to factors like global market volatility, rising inflation, and a shift in investor sentiment. Despite the bleak outlook, some regions like Galway and Cork are emerging as new hubs for investment.

Accenture's Strategic Move: Acquiring Nautilus to Reshape Healthcare - Accenture has acquired Nautilus Consulting, a leading digital healthcare consultancy. The acquisition aims to accelerate digital transformation in healthcare by combining Nautilus's expertise in strategic and operational consulting with Accenture's technological capabilities. Nautilus has been pivotal in bridging the gap between clinical users and IT solution providers, enhancing patient experiences and operational efficiencies. The acquisition also strengthens Accenture's relationship with Oracle Health, a leading provider of digital record systems in healthcare.

The Looming Mental Health Crisis: Half of Global Population at Risk by Age 75 - A recent study by The University of Queensland and Harvard Medical School reveals that half of the global population is likely to develop a mental health condition by age 75. The study analysed data from over 150,000 adults across 29 countries and found mood disorders like depression and anxiety to be the most prevalent. The study calls for increased investment in mental health services, particularly for young people, as the median age for the onset of these disorders is 19 for men and 20 for women.

Navigating the Digital Health Landscape: Insights from the 2023 Digital Health Barometer - The 2023 Digital Health Barometer, commissioned by Roche Diagnostics, provides a comprehensive overview of the digital health landscape across ten countries. The report emphasises the potential of digital health technologies to improve patient-centred care but also identifies challenges in integration and data privacy. It calls for collaboration across various stakeholders, including healthcare professionals and patients, to successfully adopt digital health technologies. The report serves as both a roadmap and a reflection of the current state of digital health.

The Rise and Fall of Babylon Health: A Cautionary Tale for Telehealth Startups - Babylon Health, a London-based telehealth startup once valued at nearly $2 billion, has filed for bankruptcy. The company's downfall is attributed to a series of issues, including concerns about patient safety and corporate governance. Babylon Health had expanded into the U.S. market with a $4 billion+ SPAC plan in 2021, but its shares became worthless, leading to its U.K. subsidiary formally entering administration. The company's assets were sold to eMed Healthcare UK, raising questions about the future of Babylon's services.

UK's Healthcare Regulatory Milestone: Three New Approved Bodies for Medical Device Certification - The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK has designated three new approved bodies—TÜV SÜD, Intertek, and TÜV Rheinland UK—for medical device certification. This move aims to ease the bottleneck in the certification process that emerged after Brexit. These bodies will take over the role previously performed by EU notified bodies, facilitating a smoother transition to UK Conformity Assessment (UKCA) certification. The decision is seen as a significant step in ensuring patient safety and access to medical devices in the UK.

A New Era in Health Data Research: £72.3 Million to Transform UK Healthcare - Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) has secured £72.3 million in funding for the next five years to revolutionise health data science. The funding will support five UK-wide research driver programs focusing on complex diseases, inflammation and immunity, genomics, medicines in acute and chronic care, and social and environmental determinants of health. These programs aim to leverage large-scale data to address pressing health challenges and lay the groundwork for future research. The initiative also includes an interactive tool to help researchers navigate available datasets.

Ireland's Digital Health Innovation Programme: A Golden Opportunity for HealthTech CEOs and Founders - Ireland has launched a groundbreaking Digital Health Innovation programme aimed at CEOs and founders in the HealthTech sector. The programme, which runs from October 19th to February 15th, 2024, focuses on needs-led innovation in medtech, pharma, and biopharma. It offers an immersive experience with eight full-day workshops over four months, allowing participants to work on company-specific projects. The initiative aims to equip professionals with the tools and methodologies for innovating healthcare solutions and securing funding. It also fosters industry-academia collaborations, promising to redefine approaches to innovation and product development.

AI in Healthcare: A Double-Edged Sword with Exciting Prospects and Ethical Quandaries - Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare is a topic of both excitement and caution, according to Greg Clark, chairman of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee (SITC). While AI has transformative potential, such as in reading X-rays and accelerating drug discovery, it also poses significant risks. These include the perpetuation of societal biases and misuse of personal information. The SITC has outlined 12 risks associated with AI in healthcare, emphasising the need for collective action to mitigate them. The report serves as a call for evolving policy thinking alongside technological advancements.

The Unstoppable Surge of Wearable HealthTech: A Revolution in Healthcare or a Trend to Watch? - Wearable technology in healthcare has seen exponential growth, with over 490 million devices shipped worldwide in 2022 alone. These devices have evolved from mere fitness trackers to sophisticated health monitors, thanks to advancements in AI, smart sensors, and cloud computing. While wearable tech offers immense benefits like early detection of health issues and personalised treatment plans, it also faces challenges such as security concerns and high costs. The article emphasises the need for a well-defined development and regulatory framework to navigate these complexities.

You might like these articles:

• ‘Most exciting’ applications for AI lie in healthcare
• Value Sharing Framework for NHS data partnerships - Unleashing the Potential of Health and Care Data
• Harnessing Smart Watches: A New Dawn in Early Parkinson's Detection
• The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan
• Essential Details HealthTech Entrepreneurs Should Consider in Crafting Their Intended Purpose for SaMD
• AI's Cold Comfort: The Unspoken Empathy Crisis in HealthTech
• The Paradox of Progress: Navigating the Fine Line Between Innovation and Trust in AI Healthcare
• Is Pivoting a Strategic Masterstroke or a Sign of Weakness in HealthTech?
• Digital is not the NHS's silver bullet
• Is Brilliant Technology Enough for Healthcare?
• Can Human-Centred Design Shape the Future of HealthTech and Patient Outcomes?
• Data Governance - The Overlooked Game Changer in Healthcare
• Pear Therapeutics: A Wake-Up Call for the Digital Health Industry?
• Are We Missing the Emotional Connection in AI?
• AI Doesn't Diminish the Humanity of Healthcare; It Amplifies it
• Why One-Size-Fits-All Digital Health Solutions Don't Work
• The Curse of HealthTech Complexity
• The Intersection of Digital Health and Mental Health
• Revamping the UK's Healthcare with MedTech
• Unlocking the Secrets of the Mind - Can AI Revolutionise Mental Health Research?
• How Generative Pre-training Transformer Models (like ChatGPT) will Change Healthcare
• AI is the key to unlocking the full potential of Remote Patient Monitoring and Telemedicine
• How will artificial intelligence (AI) transform healthcare in the future?
• How will the aging population and the rise of chronic diseases affect healthcare demand and the delivery of care?

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