Healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors see transformational shift with digital technologies: Saurabh Saxena

Digital transformation lies at the center of healthcare businesses’ internal conversations, said Saurabh Saxena, Country Director, India, Micro Focus.

As every industry is seeing a transformational shift in the use of next-generation technology, healthcare and pharmaceuticals industries face the most stringent levels of regulations and oversight, he added.

In highly complex operations, the central risk to patients’ ensues from poor processes which come from regulatory non-compliance. Maintaining regulatory compliance, however, can also lead to increased overheads which can undermine productivity and profitability stacked-up on top of a demanding business environment, Saxena told Pharmabiz. 

The factors creating a challenging business environment are demand for personalized medicines and treatments; ageing populations are placing stress on critical services, and patients taking more control over provider choices. 

Adopting new age technologies in software development, healthcare and pharmaceuticals companies are not only proving to be cost-effective, but also creating a competitive edge by de-siloing business units and channeling working hours - from routine processes to high-value labor. The unique nature of the sector means, there are considerations to make while embarking on a digital transformation in the healthcare business, he noted. 

While managing the application lifecycle in a regulated environment, companies need to prove to auditors that any changes and access to these applications have undergone a rigorous and auditable process, as per regulatory requirements like 21 CFR Part 11, GAMP5, SOX, and HIPAA. Controlled workflows and electronic signatures can support the testing and validation activities while making the overall process more efficient and compliant. 

Businesses can also integrate safety and performance testing into the functional testing process while implementing continuous validation. 

Building a good mobile app is no longer just desirable; it is a business essential. Mobile apps too create design and implementation challenges. The critical nature of health-related apps demands a highly robust testing solution which can account for less conventional methods, offer network virtualization tools to simulate real-life mobile network conditions, and thoroughly evaluate user experience and accessibility, he said. 

For healthcare companies, data produced by the research and development process are highly valuable. The healthcare industry’s dynamic nature makes it mature for digital technology initiatives as automated tools have massive potential in rigorous regulatory environments where record-keeping is paramount. 

Big Data analysis will be an excellent decision to process such bulky data after all the company has to sustain its ability to address solution performance proactively, said Saxena. 

After evaluating several alternatives to address the analytics needs, the use of digitalization and big data have helped in keeping the performance as the key criterion.The aim is to make users become proficient physicians - ultimately enabling a clinician to spend more time caring for patients and it further translates to improved health care delivery, better outcomes, and healthier, happier patients, he said.

The complex nature of the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries make them particularly suitable for digital initiatives: automated tools have huge potential in regulatory environments where record-keeping is imperative. While the sensitive nature of the sector demands thoughtful planning, the competitive advantage is more than worth the effort Saxena stated.

Source: http://www.pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=122218&sid=1