The McKinsey Health Institute, the non-profit arm of McKinsey & Company global management consulting, recently published a report stating that the world is at a critical point in human history regarding healthcare. Their belief is that over the next ten years, humanity could add as much as 45 billion extra years of quality life. Yes, you read that correctly, 45 BILLION! That averages out to approximately six extra years for every person on the planet.
Though the group acknowledges that this is an ambitious undertaking, they believe it is possible by making six key shifts in our current behavior and thinking.
Shift 1.) Invest more in health. Health spending by individuals, companies, and governments is currently a cost to be managed, not a priority. A greater portion of healthcare dollars needs to be spent on prevention and the promotion of optimal health. Things such as health education, proper nutrition, improved agriculture, and healthy consumer products should be emphasized.
Shift 2.) Gather more and better information. Our current understanding of healthcare is inconsistent when compared to existing data, and gaps in that data. The improvement of healthcare will require a modern approach to the gathering of health information and its comprehension. Data needs to be compared on each health category, and transparency across organizations needs to improve drastically. The other side of this is that weak research and data collection leads to a waste of already limited resources and slows innovation. Mental health is one area that stands out as needing significant improvement in such data collection.
Shift 3.) Scale what works. McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) maintains that global disease could be reduced by up to 40% by applying existing, proven interventions. Furthermore, scaling those interventions could reduce child mortality by 65% and could help a 65-year-old person be as healthy as a 55-year-old person. The group believes that high-income countries should focus on addressing diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. In addition, lower-income countries should be investing in basic healthcare infrastructure.
Shift 4.) Innovate more and more quickly. Research and development in the healthcare industry are narrow and are concentrated on clinical outcomes, pharmaceuticals, and medical products. A greater portion of resources needs to be invested in innovation, including digital, technology, and health services. Things such as business models, government policies, incentive programs, and new technology all have room for massive improvement.
Shift 5.) Unleash the full potential of all industries. While many companies that are viewed as being outside of the traditional healthcare industry are exploring greater participation in healthcare, few report their findings. Knowledge is considered a commodity to generate profits, not as a gift to all humankind. The MHI report says that instead of guarding these secrets, every business should be investing in healthcare in some format and should search out ways to be bold and disruptive in the healthcare economy.
Shift 6.) Change our behavior. Modifiable behaviors such as sleep, nutrition, exercise, smoking, and regular health screenings still contribute up to 60% of deaths worldwide. Instead of being passive in their healthcare, individuals need to be empowered to be stewards of their own health. This can be accomplished through more and better health education, public sector innovation, and improved public health policy. In addition, the accepted definition of health needs to include mental, social, and spiritual aspects.
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