From easing budgetary pressures to personalising care for chronic conditions, a new study commissioned by Ricoh Europe reveals the disruptive impact new printing technologies are having on European healthcare systems.
According to the research, 68% of healthcare professionals believe new printing technologies have the potential to fundamentally transform the health sector.
Including advances in customised prosthetics and on-demand drug manufacturing, 74% of healthcare experts now use new printing technologies to improve accurate diagnostic rates and lower mortality rates. In addition, 51% say applying new printing technologies to rapidly manufacture customised implants, such as bone and dental grafts, significantly reduces the time patients need to spend in hospital and are crucial for improving recovery times.
David Mills, CEO, Ricoh Europe says: "Tasked to do more with less, making use of innovative printing technologies will prove essential in enabling Europe's healthcare systems to continue to provide high-quality care. New techniques such as printing aquagel organs means it's now possible for surgeons to practice suturing and the removal of tumours before real-life operations. Printing medicines layer-by-layer to target specific diseases could soon be commonplace."
With life expectancies increasing and the prevalence of chronic diseases rising across Europe[1], treatments are becoming more complex in nature as ailments affect patients later into their lives. In response, 65% of healthcare providers are using new printing technologies to tailor printed materials to differing needs including those of older and remote patients.
46% of healthcare professionals go so far as to say that without investment in 3D-printing they will struggle to meet the needs of patients in the next five years.
Mills adds: "It's not just through cutting-edge developments that healthcare facilities are benefiting from advances in printing technologies. Healthcare is an intensely admin heavy sector. By digitising their systems, providers can reduce paperwork to save time, cut costs and improve security."
Note: Ricoh commissioned quantitative research investigating the opinions of 787 healthcare decision-makers across Europe
[1] OECD, Health at a glance: Europe 2016 - https://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/Health-at-a-Glance-Europe-2016-CHARTSET.pdf
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