Ageing population top concern for healthcare in 2050: report

With Asia projected to make up 45% of the world’s population by 2050, with 810 million from south east Asia by 2020, constant pressure remains on both doctors and healthcare providers to keep the levee from breaking.

According to a survey by Polycom entitled ‘Healthcare in 2025: 2025 Healthcare Technology Innovation Survey’, healthcare players from the Asia-Pacific believe a ballooning and ageing population are the most pressing causes for concern for healthcare in the coming years.

When asked about what they believe are the largest inhibitors to achieving a better healthcare future, respondents are split between three factors: funding, access to healthcare, and the lack of government support.

“These findings are unsurprising considering that the inhibitors identified for the future were similar to the inhibitors currently plaguing the healthcare sector. In India for example, 68% of its population live in rural areas where access to healthcare is a common problem,” the report said.

Interestingly, when segmented by occupation, those working on the ground level and those in management were split in terms of what they project as the most pressing future healthcare concerns.

“For instance in APAC, those working in executive, finance and innovation and planning roles believe the largest inhibitor is access to healthcare. Comparatively, those in nursing, administration and patient services think it is funding,” the report said.

Meanwhile, when asked about what they foresee as the greatest barriers to healthcare, respondents from south east Asia believe that healthcare accessibility for all will be a cause for concern in the coming years in their respective markets.

“When segmented by occupation, this trend continues with the majority feeling that policy will likely be an obstacle toward better healthcare in the future,” the report added.