New report illuminates the promising role of cloud technology in healthcare

A fresh report spotlighting the transformative role of cloud technology in combating the prevalent challenges in healthcare has been released by the Health Policy Partnership. The publication, titled “Our Health in the Cloud: Exploring the Evolving Role of Cloud Technology in Healthcare,” outlines the practical application of this technology. The report was created with the support of the European Institute for Innovation through Health Data (i~HD).

The publication coincides with the HIMSS 2023 European Health Conference & Exhibition in Lisbon, and delves into how cloud technology has propelled innovative solutions within the healthcare industry, and its potential future contributions.

Dipak Kalra, president of the i~HD, commented, “Cloud technology is a crucial catalyst for leveraging health data to enhance health outcomes, boost patient safety, swiftly identify public health threats, and expedite research into novel medicines and medical technologies.”

“Cloud technology offers secure computational power surpassing conventional on-premise resources, facilitating data integration across entities. Our report seeks to express why health decision-makers should be concerned about cloud technology, what they need to comprehend and be assured about urgently, and how to progress in a manner that prioritises the needs and preferences of patients and the public in health sector’s cloud integration,” Kalra added.

Cloud technology plays a pivotal role in enabling the data-centric strategy currently prevalent in healthcare. It has already demonstrated its potential in the field, offering key advantages like improved efficiency in patient-focused care, a population-oriented health approach, research that sparks innovation, and durable, resilient health systems.

However, the report highlights the industry’s lack of general awareness and comprehension of cloud technology. This lack of understanding leads to perceived risks, such as those related to privacy and security, which continue to hinder its broad adoption.

Suzanne Wait, Managing Director at The Health Policy Partnership, stated, “As both healthcare delivery and research have become increasingly data-intensive and collaborative, the process of gathering, merging, storing, analysing, and exchanging these data demands computational power, cybersecurity, and speed that far surpass typical onsite capacities, thus necessitating cloud technology. All stakeholders, not just IT departments, should enhance their understanding of ‘the cloud’ and ensure its proper and maximal usage across healthcare settings.”

The report emphasises the necessity for both patients and healthcare professionals to actively participate in discussions and policymaking concerning the technology. This involvement is key to ensuring that its implementation caters to their needs and incorporates their perspectives.

According to a recent report from Netskope Threat Labs, the healthcare sector has a comparatively low count of cloud malware downloads relative to other sectors. However, as cloud technology’s deployment expands, it is crucial for organisations to ensure they are adequately protected.