#Health-Diagnostics

Sustainability challenge and related SDGs:

Before treating any illness or health problem, a diagnosis is needed. To determine the necessary treatment for specific health problems, doctors must establish an accurate diagnosis. Accurate and early diagnostics ensure better treatment for any diseases and save lives.

By contrast, without diagnostics, diseases or health issues cannot be treated. #HealthInfrastructure could be saturated, if #HealthDiagnostics are not accurate and not obtained at an early stage, compromising SDG 11 “Sustainable Cities and Communities” and SDG 3 “Good Health and Wellbeing”.

Enabling access to #HealthDiagnostics equipment is also a step towards achieving SDG 10 “Reduced Inequalities”. They allow to avoid possible bias of the doctor towards certain groups of people and thus to make more accurate diagnoses.

Possible solutions and their contribution to achieving the SDGs

Firstly, physicians talk to their patients, followed by a thorough examination to establish a diagnosis. The more accurate a diagnostic is, the more adequate a treatment will be. Therefore, doctors need tools to help them determine accurately whether a disease is spreading or, for example, a bone is broken.

These diagnostic tools and supplies of equipment can provide medical images or blood analysis which are extremely valuable. They require a lot of research but help establish faster diagnostics, which save lives.

Primarily related SDG Targets: 3.4; 10.4; 11a

Investment Rationale and Growth Potential

#HealthDiagnostics are key components of a well-functioning healthcare system. Early and accurate diagnostics can not only save lives but also money as they help prescribe the best treatments. They support faster recovery and potentially could stop the development of more serious forms of the disease, thereby avoiding the need for people to go to hospital.

As a result, the overall cost to society will be lower, which is why promoting early diagnosis is effective from both a medical and financial perspective. Unfortunately, diagnostics will always be needed, as we all experienced recently with the Covid pandemic. Sadly enough, this is an area of growth, but we believe an important investment opportunity.