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Each year since 1950, people around the world have marked April 7 as World Health Day. The occasion seeks to raise awareness for issues related to our mental and physical well-being, as well as the health of the environment and the world we live in.
Under the theme of ‘Our planet, our health,’ World Health Day 2022 aims to “focus global attention on urgent actions needed to keep humans and the planet healthy and foster a movement to create societies focused on well-being.”
As governments, organisations and individuals everywhere continue to grapple with the effects of the global pandemic, pollution and increasing rates of diseases such as cancer, asthma and heart disease, what will it take to make the world a healthier place? How can we ensure that people everywhere have access to needed healthcare services? And, what role can businesses (and business schools) play?
From aging populations and water quality to dealing with employee stress and the impact of technology, CEIBS faculty share their thoughts on how individuals and organisations can work together for a #HealthierTomorrow.
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Zhou Dongsheng
Professor of Marketing and Director of CEIBS Healthcare Sector Research Centre
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the healthcare sector in China?
I think the biggest one, not only for healthcare but also for society in general, is China’s aging population.This is a serious challenge because China’s population differs from other countries in three ways:
First, is the huge size of China’s aging population. China now has more than 260 million people aged 60 years old or olderand it is forecasted that by 2040 we will have more than 400 million people, which is about the size of Europe.
Second, every country is aging, but China is entering an aging society much faster than other countries. We all know, for example, that Japan is an aging country. But, it took Japan 24 years to go from becoming an aging society to reaching a deep aging society (one where 14% of the population is 65 years or older). By comparison, China took only 22 years.
Ultimately, as China’s society ages, many people will have chronic diseases. The rate of diseases such as cancer will be much higher and there will be more people with disabilities, which will increase the burden on our insufficient medical resources and insurance funds. We will have to find a way to deal with this.
What is one thing that needs to be done to overcome these challenges?
First-and-foremost, we need to move from a disease-focused mind-set to a health-focused mind-set. Most hospitals are designed to treat diseases – meaning, if you go to the hospital, it is the job of the doctors to cure your disease. If you focus on health, however, then it is a long-term process. It is about a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not just about the absence of disease. These are everyday things that you need to be aware of. Moreover, this is not just a job for doctors, it is a job for individuals. As an individual, you’re responsible for your own health. Luckily, I think many young people are already taking this mind-set.
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What is one area where China can play a leading role in the future of healthcare?
In general, I think it is still too early for China to play a leading role in healthcare. Serious reform in the health sector started only five years ago when China joined the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH). Only since then have we really been able to talk about Chinese firms being on the same playing field. That said, China has a huge population and rich clinical data. If you can link that data with technology, for example, you can use machine learning and deep learning to develop better algorithms to help doctors diagnose and treat some diseases or even invent new treatments.
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