Can technology rescue ailing health services?

Rory Cellan-Jones talks to Angelique Acquatella, Shan Morgan and Jennifer Dixon about the current status of digital technology adoption in healthcare services, why digital adoption is so slow, and the opportunities for medtech, individuals and the wider economy.
In this episode, experts unpack the barriers and facilitators of digital healthcare. Rory, Angelique, Shan and Jennifer explore the impact of med tech on inequalities, and offer solutions to mitigate risks of digital exclusion in healthcare. Provided healthcare systems focus on long-term priorities and agenda, the speakers highlight that technologies could enhance the quality and effectiveness of care.
This episode is hosted by Rory Cellan-Jones (former technology correspondent for the BBC), and features guest experts Angelique Acquatella (TSE), Shan Morgan (Bennett Institute), Jennifer Dixon (Health Foundation).
Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platform: pod.fo/e/207d50
Season 3 Episode 2 transcript: www.bennettins...
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Our thanks to:
Audio production by Steve Hankey
Associate production by Stella Erker
Visuals by Tiffany Naylor
About our host and guests:
Rory Cellan-Jones was a technology correspondent for the BBC. His 40 years in journalism have seen him take a particular interest in the impact of the internet and digital technology on society and business. He has also written multiple books, including “Always On” (2021) and his latest “Ruskin Park: Sylvia, Me and the BBC” which was published in 2023. @ruskin147
Professor Angelique Acquatella is an Assistant Professor at the Toulouse School of Economics. Her research studies the optimal design of health care policy, with two main substantive areas: public health insurance systems and pharmaceutical payment policy. She is interested in policy designs that (1) advance health equity, (2) minimize risk for the most disadvantaged individuals, and (3) incentivize socially valuable investments. Angelique’s work falls at the intersection of health economics and public finance, combining methods from optimal tax theory with traditional cost-effectiveness analysis in health economics. Angelique received her PhD in Economics from Harvard University and was an NBER Aging and Health Fellow and a National Science Foundation Fellow. @angieacquatella
Dr Jennifer Dixon joined the Health Foundation as Chief Executive in October 2013. Jennifer was Chief Executive of the Nuffield Trust from 2008 to 2013. Prior to this, she was Director of Policy at The King’s Fund and policy advisor to the Chief Executive of the NHS between 1998 and 2000. Jennifer was appointed as a non-executive board member of the UK Health Security Agency in April 2022. Originally trained in medicine, Jennifer practiced mainly as a paediatrician prior to a career in policy analysis. She has a Master’s in public health and a PhD in health services research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In 2009, Jennifer was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. She was awarded a CBE for services to public health in 2013, and a Doctor of Science from Bristol University in 2016. She holds a visiting professorship at the London School of Economics. @JenniferTHF
Dame Shan Morgan is Chair of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which employs around 16,000 staff and provides healthcare services for about 615,000 people. Shan previously worked as the Welsh Government’s Permanent Secretary, leading the Civil Service of the Welsh Government in delivering the priorities of Ministers. Her career has spanned a wide range of roles in the Civil and Diplomatic Service including as HM Ambassador to Argentina and Paraguay and leading EU legislative negotiations for the UK as Deputy Permanent Representative at the UK Representation in Brussels.