May 05, 2021

Philips’ Future Health Index 2021 report reveals transformative post-pandemic agenda of healthcare leaders worldwide

Largest global survey of its kind features critical insights from nearly 3,000 healthcare leaders across 14 countries on meeting the demands of today and their vision for healthcare three years from now
Findings indicate nearly two in three healthcare leaders are prioritizing investments in telehealth today as they continue to grapple with the pandemic, with priorities shifting to artificial intelligence in three years
Nearly 60% of leaders worldwide cite the importance of environmental sustainability in healthcare over the next three years

Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced the publication of its Future Health Index (FHI) 2021 report: ‘A Resilient Future: Healthcare leaders look beyond the crisis’. Now in its sixth year, the Future Health Index 2021 report is based on proprietary research across 14 countries, representing the largest global survey of its kind to analyze the current and future priorities of healthcare leaders worldwide.

Go to the report

Feedback from healthcare leaders – including executive officers, financial officers, technology and information officers, operations officers and more – explores the challenges they have faced since the onset of the pandemic, and where their current and future priorities lie, revealing a new vision for the future of healthcare. With a focus on patient-centered healthcare enabled by smart technology, their vision is shaped by a fresh emphasis on partnerships, sustainability and new models of care delivery, both inside and outside the hospital.

The Future Health Index 2021 report reflects pockets of positivity amid the COVID-19 crisis. Healthcare leaders have seen first-hand how digital health technology can ensure the continued delivery of care in incredibly difficult circumstances.

Jan Kimpen

Chief Medical Officer, Philips

“The Future Health Index 2021 report reflects pockets of positivity amid the COVID-19 crisis. Healthcare leaders have seen first-hand how digital health technology can ensure the continued delivery of care in incredibly difficult circumstances,” said Jan Kimpen, Chief Medical Officer, Philips. “Many are now reassessing their technology capabilities as they consider what’s next. While we can’t be sure what the next few years hold, what shines forth from this report is that healthcare leaders are committed to building healthcare systems that are sustainable, adaptable and – above all – resilient.”

Telehealth prioritized during COVID-19; AI investment to rise after pandemic

While still grappling with the pandemic, 64% of healthcare leaders around the world continue to prioritize telehealth when it comes to digital health technology investments. This number is particularly high in the U.S. (89%). However, in the next three years, only 40% expect to invest heavily in telehealth and AI emerges as a key area for investment (36% today, 74% in three years). Healthcare leaders in emerging economies like Saudi Arabia (98%), India (94%) and Russia (85%) plan to prioritize investments in AI the most in 2024, even more than those in the U.S. (80%).

Roughly one third (36%) of European healthcare leaders and one quarter (27%) of those in APAC agree that, to be prepared for the future, their hospital or healthcare facility most needs to invest in implementing predictive technologies like AI and machine learning. Notably, in technologically advanced Singapore, the numbers are higher, with nearly two thirds (62%) of healthcare leaders prioritizing an investment in AI post-pandemic. And while lower, Europe and APAC are still above the averages for the Americas (12%) and the Middle East & Africa (6%) when it comes to prioritizing AI in 2024.

Environmentally sustainable healthcare rises from bottom to top priority

Implementing environmental sustainability practices rises from the bottom of leaders’ priority list (4%) to the top (58%) in three years’ time, with those in France (86%) and the Netherlands (81%) leading the way. The trend is more pronounced among leaders who work in technologically advanced (smart) hospitals or practices (71%) and those in developed markets (65%).

Other key trends in healthcare leaders’ current and post-COVID outlook coming out of the Future Health Index 2021 report include:

After a year of crisis, healthcare leaders remain optimistic about the future. The vast majority (86%) think their hospital showed resilience during the pandemic and feel confident in the future (75%).
While leaders rank preparing to respond to crises as their top priority today – with 69% choosing this option – the figure falls to just 3% in three years’ time, indicating healthcare leaders expect to shift their focus away from crisis preparedness.
Current plans for value-based care have been hit by COVID-19 in many countries, with 33% of healthcare leaders in Brazil and 25% in the U.S. saying they have deprioritized this area because of the pandemic. However, overall the picture remains positive: 50% of all leaders are either practicing value-based care currently, or plan to in the future.

Since 2016, Philips has conducted original research to help determine the readiness of countries to address global health challenges and build efficient and effective health systems. For details on the Future Health methodology and to access the Future Health Index 2021 report in its entirety, visit: https://www.philips.com/a-w/about/news/future-health-index.

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum – from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions.

Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2020 sales of EUR 17.3 billion and employs approximately 78,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

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