In the last 100 years, we have witnessed dizzying progress in the field of health. Now we have such advanced machinery that the capacities of our doctors have multiplied, we have increased doctors and nurses. Technology has revolutionized the way we prevent and treat disease. The work of health professionals is more precise thanks to it.
Technology and health go hand in hand in all kinds of situations. From the smart watch that informs us of our sleep in the morning and collects a world of data, to the robotic arm that operates on us when we go through the operating room or the operations that with 5G are carried out hundreds of kilometers away.
Simple samples of infinite applications. "One of the most interesting examples is digital twins. Just as virtual replicas of an airplane, a factory or a building can be generated to detect and anticipate any failure in the digital world through simulations, a digital twin can also be made of any organ of a patient, be it the heart, the liver, or a lung", states Professor Pablo Foncillas. It anticipates diseases and allows the development of new drugs and vaccines.
In the future everyone will benefit. "It has proven to be an excellent social leveler, allowing more equitable access to medical care," explains the researcher. "It is true that it takes a few years for technology to unfold and reach all layers of the population, but when it does, its effect is incredible," he adds. "This equal access to medical treatment has an unexpected effect, it also represents progress for the population in general because more study cases is a benefit for society as a whole", continues Foncillas.
All this also has an impact on the economy. Good health, preventative treatment, fewer diseases... "It means less spending on public health," she argues. But, above all, "the most important thing about being healthy is that health is a very clear indicator of happiness." Healthier, happier. Technology and its infrastructures play a key role in achieving this.
