What doctor? Why AI and robotics will define New Health - www.pwc.com
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What doctor?
Why AI and robotics
will define New Health
www.pwc.com
Contents Introduction 1 Transforming 3 Keeping well 4 Early detection 4 Diagnosis 5 Decision-making 5 Treatment 6 End of life care 7 Research 7 Training 8 Investment 9 AI investment heats up 9 Rise of the robots 11 Findings 12 The public is ready 12 Will AI replace the consultation? 13 Service preferences 15 Will robots replace surgeons? 19 The new imperatives for healthcare 21 Conclusion 23 References 25 About 27 Contacts 28
Introduction
Would you allow a medical robot with artificial intelligence (AI) to examine, diagnose
and prescribe a treatment plan for you or a member of your family with cancer?
Would you accept a robot as your primary surgeon? And if you were to do so, what
would the human clinician do?
AI and robots have long been a theme What if it could make healthcare services over the next ten
in fiction. From Isaac Asimov’s ‘I, recommendations so that you could years will define our ability to deliver
Robot’ in 1950 to Baymax, the care achieve and maintain your ‘optimal’ a more responsive health service with
robot in ‘Big Hero 6’, we’ve long been physical or mental condition or detect improved health outcomes, while at
fascinated with the possibilities for anomalies early? the same time enabling people to take
machines that can understand, reason more control over their day-to-day
and learn – and help us to make better Robots like Baymax and tricorder health needs.
use of information. scanners are not science fiction. AI
and robots that support, diagnose
Just imagine that you had a hand-held and treat people are already in
scanner the size of your smartphone homes, workplaces and clinical
that could ‘sense, compute and record’ environments all over the world. And
your daily health status just like the how we embrace AI and robotics to
Star Trek medical ‘tricorder’. complement and enhance current
New Health
We are entering a new era What doctor? The answers to these two questions
fundamentally impact clinicians and
of health – New Health At the heart of this report is the
caregivers throughout healthcare. The
Health matters. It matters to each of us emergence and increasing use of
answers will ultimately decide how
as individuals and to society as a whole. artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics
we implement the use of AI and robots
It lies at the heart of our economic, within and throughout this New Health
in developing our healthcare systems
political, social and environmental ecosystem. We chose ‘What doctor’ as
across the globe. We will specifically
prosperity and is one of the largest our title for the report because during
address these two questions in the next
industries in the world. our research – and the response to that
phase of our research initiative, but it
research – it has become increasingly
is important to keep them in mind as
Modern health systems can treat and clear that policy makers, payers,
we explore existing perceptions and
cure more diseases than ever before. providers, educators and the public need
attitudes towards AI and robotics in
New technology is bringing innovation to consider:t
this report.
to old treatments. Yet significant
• What is the role of the AI/
quality, access and cost issues remain
robot doctor?
and our health systems are becoming
increasingly unsustainable.
• What is the role of the
human doctor?
1
Five distinct trends are converging, which mean AI and robotics will come to define
New Health: Last decade
1. First and foremost is the value Past decades have focused on the
Medical Products
challenge that all countries across the innovation provided by medical products
globe are facing – there is escalating delivering historic and evidence-based Equipment, Hardware,
demand from long-term, chronic care. The present decade is one of medical Consumables
disease, rising costs, often with an platforms focused on real-time, outcome-
ageing population and limited resources based care. The next decade is moving
(money, workforce specialists, etc). Yet towards medical solutions – using AI,
we are continuing to invest in facilities robotics, and virtual and augmented
and equipment that were built to solve reality – to deliver intelligent solutions
a completely different set of healthcare for both evidence- and outcome-based
Differentiation is solely through
needs and are not designed to cope with health, and focusing on collaborative,
product innovation. Focused on
this demand. A hospital-centric system preventative care. This confluence of
historic and evidence based-care.
deals very well with serious health technology-based products, platforms
episodes that require days or weeks and solutions is leading to a previously
of acute care for very ill people. But it unimagined precision medicine, down to Current decade
was never intended to deal with large the familial and individual level, which
numbers of people whose conditions are one day may even be able to predict and Medical Platforms
chronic, complex and require treatment thereby prevent disease. Wearable, Big Data, Health
for the longer term. Analytics
4. Technology has, of course, had an
2. The past decade has seen an explosion impact far beyond the developments in
in the amount of health data that is healthcare. The explosion of technology
now available to us. For example, for – digitally enabled, wireless connectivity
a skin specialist there are 11,000 new across increasingly mobile devices – has Differentiation by providing
dermatology articles published every created an increasing democratisation services to key stakeholders.
year. In 2013, it was estimated that of access for healthcare. Some of the Focused on real time outcome
the volume of health-related data had most powerful AI tools are already based-care.
reached over four zettabytes – that’s embedded in Android or iOS. Harnessing
four trillion gigabytes (1021) – and there this technology is providing consumers Next decade
are those who project this exponential with the data and information they need
growth rate to reach ten times that by to proactively manage their own health Medical Solutions
2020, and, even beyond, to yottabyte and wellness, and to make better, more
Robotics, AI, Augmented Reality
(1024) proportions1. Furthermore, fully informed decisions in partnership with
80% of this extraordinary amount of their healthcare providers.
data is unstructured2, meaning that it’s
not contained in a database or some 5. Finally, the willingness of the
other type of data structure. Staying general public to be more active
current with and being able to access this participants in their own health and
data is simply beyond the scope of any wellness has now reached critical mass.
human individual, no matter how capable As we reported in our 2016 survey Care Differentiation via intelligent
or intelligent. Anywhere, the explosion of technology solutions for evidence/outcome
and the increasing ubiquity of the based health. Focused on
3. Information technology development Internet of Things (IoT) is bringing preventive care.
in healthcare has been rapidly moving about breakthroughs that are erasing
Source: Frost & Sullivan, ‘Transforming
from products to services to solutions healthcare boundaries and enabling care healthcare through artificial intelligence
(Frost & Sullivan, 2016). anywhere and everywhere3. And this systems’, 2016
willingness is extending into the areas
of AI and robotics, which we explore in
this report.
The Medical Futurist (2016). http://medicalfuturist.com/artificial-intelligence-will-redesign-healthcare/
1
Healthcare Data Institute (2015). http://healthcaredatainstitute.com/2015/02/18/big-unstructured-datas-contribution-to-healthcare/
2
PwC (2016). Care Anywhere: Moving health and wellness out of the hospital and into the hands of the consumer. https://www.pwc.com/m1/en/publications/
3
documents/care-anywhere.pdf 2
Transforming
No longer science fiction, AI and robotics
are transforming healthcare
Most of us are barely aware of it, but AI is getting increasingly sophisticated Throughout this section of the
AI is already a part of our lives – it’s in at doing what humans do but more report, we highlight a range of
our cars, telling us when it’s time for efficiently, more quickly and at a lower products and existing or emerging
the engine to be serviced based on our cost. The potential for both AI and technology in side-bars or boxes
driving patterns; it’s in our everyday robotics in healthcare is vast. Just like that we’ve found during our
Google searches and the suggestions in our everyday lives, AI and robotics
research for these eight areas. It is
from Amazon that follow us around on are increasingly a part of our
the web; it’s the chatbot on the end of healthcare ecosystem. extraordinary, and hard to keep
the telephone in call service centres. AI up with as new uses of AI and
is becoming ubiquitous and most of us robotics are launched every week.
use it: Apple’s Siri processes two billion
natural-language requests a week4, and
20% of requests on Android phones are
made by voice alone5.
Keeping
Training
Well
Early
Research Detection
AI and
Robotics
End of
Diagnosis
Life Care
Decision
Treatment Making
3Keeping well Early detection
One of AI’s biggest potential benefits is
Artificial Intelligence AI is already being used to detect
to help people stay healthy so they don’t and Consumer Apps diseases, such as cancer, more
need a doctor, or at least not as often. for keeping well accurately and in their early stages.
The use of AI and the Internet of Medical For example, according to the
Smart Performance Apparel
Things (IoMT) in consumer health American Cancer Society, 12.1 million
offers real-time biometrics,
applications is already helping people to mammograms are performed annually
personalised programming, and
manage their own healthcare and to keep in the US, but a high proportion of
customised reporting to help
themselves well through healthier living. these mammograms yield false results,
athletes reach their goals faster.
For example, the Smart belt – welt has leading to 1 in 2 healthy women being
a built-in mechanism that alerts the told they have cancer. The use of AI
Samsung Electronics offers
person when they overeat. It relies on a is enabling review and translation of
consumers devices such as
magnetic sensor to track waste size and mammograms 30 times faster with
smartwatches and activity
tension to determine when the users may 99% accuracy, reducing the need
trackers, as well as their Tizen
have over eaten and alerts the wearer. for unnecessary biopsies as well as
open-source operating system,
Further, IBM has announced three new reducing the uncertainty and stress
which gives users quick access
consumer-focused partnerships, one of a misdiagnosis6.
to their mobile devices and help
of which is with Under Armour who
them track their fitness.
will use Watson to power a ‘cognitive The proliferation of consumer
coaching system’. wearables and other medical devices
Lumo Lift is a posture monitoring
combined with AI is also being applied
device that alerts the person
These applications and others (see Box- to oversee early-stage heart disease,
when their posture changes, thus
Out) all encourage healthier behaviour in enabling doctors and other caregivers
providing the feedback necessary
individuals and help with the proactive to better monitor and detect potentially
to ensure correct posture whether
management of a healthy lifestyle. It life-threatening episodes at earlier,
sitting or standing.
puts consumers in control of health and more treatable stages.
well-being. Additionally, AI increases
Under Armour will use IBM’s
the ability for healthcare professionals On the horizon, Microsoft is developing
Watson to power a ‘cognitive
to better understand the day-to-day computers programmed for use at
coaching system’ in an application
patterns and needs of the people they a molecular level to start fighting
that provides customised advice
care for, and with that understanding cancerous cells as soon as they are
for sleep, fitness, activity and
they are able to provide better feedback, detected. They are also doing research
nutrition. The insights originate
guidance and support for staying healthy for using AI to interpret online search
from three sources: crunching
– although, as we have noted, the sheer engine behaviour, for example, at the
data from Under Armour’s 200
volume of data is increasingly difficult for point where someone might research
million-member Connected
humans to deal with, or make sense of. symptoms online long before they
Fitness community, external
approach their physician.
academic research studies and
institutions, and IBM Watson
similarity analytics. Under AI and Wearables for
Armour will be adding new
capabilities including behavioural early detection
and performance management, Cyrcadia’s iTBraTM is a wearable
food intake tracking and overall vest being used to screen for the
nutrition management as well detection of breast cancer at
as the effects of weather and earlier stages.
environment on training.
CardioDiagnostics has
Pathway Genomics is developed a device that is able to
developing an application that remotely monitor its wearer for
will provide customised health heart irregularities and is used to
advice based on a user’s specific improve cardiac monitoring and
genetic makeup. rhythm management.
The Ringer (2016). How Siri Got Left Behind.
4
https://theringer.com/amp/p/2ffc86fe5dfa
5
The Economist (2017). How voice technology is transforming computing. http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21713836-casting-magic-spell-it-lets-people-
control-world-through-words-alone-how-voice
6
Wired (2016). http://www.wired.co.uk/article/cancer-risk-ai-mammograms
4Diagnosis Decision-making
It’s estimated that 80% of health data
Google’s Deepmind
Improving care requires the alignment
is invisible to current systems because In 2016, Google’s DeepMind of broad base data analysis with
it’s unstructured7. IBM’s Watson for stunned the Go-playing world by appropriate and timely decisions,
Health uses cognitive technology to beating 18-time world champion and predictive analytics can support
help healthcare organisations unlock Lee Se-dol, one of the highest clinical decision-making and actions as
vast amounts of health data and power ranked players in the world. It well as prioritise tasks.
diagnosis. Watson can review and store was the first time a computer
far more medical information – every programme took on a professional Using the system dynamics driven
medical journal, symptom, and case player of this ancient Chinese pattern recognition to identify
study of treatment and response around board game, which has long patients at risk of developing a
the world – exponentially faster than been considered impossible condition – or seeing it deteriorate
any human. And it doesn’t just store for computers to play at the due to lifestyle, environmental,
data, it’s capable of finding meaning in international professional level. genomic, or other factors – is another
it. Unlike humans, its decisions are all It’s much more difficult than other area where AI is beginning to take
evidence-based and free of cognitive games like chess, even though hold in healthcare. For example,
biases or overconfidence, enabling rapid the rules are relatively simple, in an extension and application of
analysis and vastly reducing – even because of the almost infinite AI, PwC’s Bodylogical™ captures
eliminating – misdiagnosis. number of possibilities and the learnings in mechanistic modeling to
high levels of intuition required of digitally represent the physiology of
Google’s DeepMind Health is a world-class player. Deepmind’s the human body. This enables true-
working in partnership with clinicians, programme displayed game- life simulations to predict the likely
researchers and patients to solve winning creativity, in some cases progression of chronic diseases in the
real-world healthcare problems. The finding moves that challenged future based on today’s actions and
technology combines machine learning millennia of Go wisdom. interventions. These simulations help
and systems neuroscience to build pharmaceutical companies, providers,
powerful general-purpose learning DeepMind Health began working payers, employers, researchers and
algorithms into neural networks that with hospitals in the UK in consumers better understand how daily
mimic the human brain. 2016, searching for early signs life choices and therapeutics impact
of disease that lead to blindness individual patients or population health
and cancer, as well as developing outcomes and associated costs.
new clinical mobile apps linked to
electronic patient records.
AI and analytics
platforms for decision-
making
Quest Diagnostics’ Quanum
platform is an integrated suite
of healthcare information
technology and predictive
analytics tools that analyses
patient test data together with
their medical data to help primary
care physicians identify patients
with early onset memory loss and
dementia.
VitreosHealth has developed a
predictive analytics platform that
identifies people whose health
is most likely to deteriorate and
implements change protocols to
prevent catastrophic health events.
Healthcare Data Institute (2015). http://healthcaredatainstitute.com/2015/02/18/big-unstructured-datas-contribution-to-healthcare/
7
5Treatment
Beyond scanning health records to
AI Robotics
help providers identify chronically ill Innovaccer’s AI Assisted Care KASPAR is a child-sized humanoid
individuals who may be at risk of an Coordination Platform addresses robot designed to help teachers and
adverse episode, AI can help clinicians persistent issues in care and parents support children with autism.
take a more comprehensive approach connectivity, and assures adherence
for disease management, better to care plans by tracking deviations Giraff is a mobile communication
coordinate care plans and help patients and staying updated on post-acute robot that facilitates a chronically
to better manage and comply with their patient needs. ill patients’ contact with the outside
long-term treatment programmes. world. It is remote-controlled,
AiCure has built an application to Sentrian is a remote patient on wheels, and has a camera
monitor patients with long-term intelligence service provider that and monitor.
conditions and help them adhere to delivers integrated remote patient
medication intake. The application uses monitoring and analytics to health Bestic is a robotic-assisted dining
a visual recognition system to identify plan members with complex appliance for people who are unable
the patient’s face, the medication pulmonary diseases. to move their arms or hands.
they’re taking, and confirm ingestion.
The data is then sent back to the Royal Philips delivers remote care Toyota has created four robots that
care provider or to a pharmaceutical options to proactively help patients enable immobilized patients to walk
company conducting a clinical trial. at home. The services are powered or balance.
by data analytics and connected
Robots have been used in medicine sensors enabling 24/7 monitoring Xenex robots disinfect hospital
for more than 30 years. From the first and delivery of an ongoing stream of facilities using UV light, destroying
programmable universal machine for monitoring data to a remote home- microorganisms that can be the cause
assembly (PUMA), used in urology care team. of hospital acquired infections (HAIs).
surgery in the 1980s, to the da Vinci
robot, the most widely used robotic Google DeepMind is partnering Aethon’s TUG robots automate
system in clinical use today, robots with the University College London the delivery and transportation of
have developed to perform a wide Hospitals’ radiotherapy department. the immense amount of materials
range of tasks and functions. They DeepMind will test the use of AI and – including food, laundry and
range from simple laboratory robots machine learning to reduce the time it prescriptions – that move through a
to highly complex surgical robots takes to plan radiotherapy treatment hospital every day, freeing staff to
that can either aid a human surgeon for hard-to-treat cancers of the head focus on patient care.
or execute operations by themselves. and neck.
In addition to surgery, they’re used Veebot is a robot that can draw blood
in hospitals and labs for repetitive IBM’s Watson for Oncology gives faster and more safely than a human.
tasks, in rehabilitation, physical treatment recommendations based
therapy and in support of those with on patients’ medical records and is
long-term conditions. RoBear is a now being used around the world,
nursing-care robot that is able to lift including 21 hospitals across China
and move patients in and out of bed and in Thailand and India.
into a wheelchair, help those who need
assistance to stand, and even turn
patients in bed to prevent bedsores.
6End of life care Developed to assist the elderly in their
own homes, they are able to monitor
We are living much longer than previous for falls and other health parameters,
generations, and as we approach the provide alerts, and connect via video-
end of life, we are dying in a different conference with healthcare providers
and slower way, from conditions as well as with friends and family.
like dementia, heart failure and
osteoporosis. It is also a phase of life that
is often plagued by loneliness. End of life care time data which is then sent to the
cloud wirelessly where algorithms
Paro Therapeutic Robots are extrapolate such advanced
Robots have the potential to
advanced interactive robots that information as whether someone is
revolutionise end of life care, helping
enable the documented benefits of showing signs of dementia. They can
people to remain independent
animal therapy to be administered also remind the elderly about daily
for longer, reducing the need for
to patients in environments such tasks and important information,
hospitalisation, caregivers and care
as hospitals and extended care and track conditions over time.
homes by performing routine tasks such
facilities where live animals present
as taking vital signs and prompting
treatment or logistical difficulties. Zora Robotics is building AI
for medication. AI combined with the
They’ve been found to reduce stress, software into Zora Bots that have
advancements in humanoid design are
stimulate interaction and improve patient-facing roles in hospitals and
enabling robots to go even further and
socialisation. are training humanoid robots to hold
have ‘conversations’ and other social
interactions with the people that keep conversations with the elderly.
Robot Era is developing robots
ageing minds sharp and solves problems
that move around on wheels but
of loneliness and isolation. Kompai
have a friendly humanoid face. The
robots talk, understand speech, remind
robot’s sensors and cameras are
people of meetings, keep track of
used to gather and analyse real-
shopping lists and play music.
Research processes there is the potential to
Each and every one of us has most likely
significantly cut both the time to market Research
for new drugs and their costs, not only
taken a medication prescribed by our for the labs who develop the drugs, The Japanese Government has
doctors for a symptom or illness at some but for those people whose health entered into a public-private alliance
point in our lives. Those with chronic depends upon them. Pharma.AI is the to develop a self-learning AI at the
diseases often depend upon medication Pharmaceutical Artificial Intelligence government-affiliated National
to manage what might otherwise be division of Insilico Medicine, a Institutes of Biomedical Innovation,
debilitating diseases. But the path from bioinformatics company located at the Health and Nutrition. The
research lab to patient is a long and Emerging Technology Centers at the partnership will support researchers
costly one. Johns Hopkins University, launched in streamlining the development
in March 2016. They focus on drug of new drugs in order to boost the
According to the California Biomedical discovery programmes for cancer, nation’s competitive advantage.
Research Association, it takes an Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and other
average of 12 years for a drug to travel ageing and age‑related health issues. BERG Health, a startup that uses
from the research lab to the patient. an AI platform for drug discovery,
Only five in 5,000, or .1%, of the drugs However, medical research is not just initiated a phase II clinical trial in
that begin pre-clinical testing ever make about finding new drugs to combat 2016 for a drug compound that could
it to human testing and just one of these disease. It also includes research into potentially treat pancreatic cancer.
five is ever approved for human usage. disease itself, with the ultimate goal
Furthermore, on average, it will cost a being to inoculate against or completely Atomwise found two existing drugs
company US $359 million to develop eliminate disease. Meta is a Canadian – reportedly in one day using its AI
a new drug from the research lab to start-up that uses AI to quickly read technology – that may also work
the patient8. and comprehend scientific papers and against the Ebola virus.
then provide insights to researchers;
Drug research and discovery is one it was bought by the Chan Zuckerberg
of the more recent applications for Initiative in January 2017 as part of
AI in healthcare. By directing the the charitable foundation’s mission to
latest advances in AI to streamline the eradicate disease.
drug discovery and drug repurposing
California Biomedical Research Association. New Drug Development Process. http://www.ca-biomed.org/pdf/media-kit/fact-sheets/CBRADrugDevelop.pdf
8
7Training This shift will inevitably alter many of
the roles of healthcare professionals.
AI allows those in training to go As these new technologies and
through naturalistic simulations in perspectives become more integrated
a way that simple computer-driven within and across our healthcare
algorithms cannot. The advent use systems and more ubiquitous among
of natural speech in technology the population, the skills that are
and the ability of an AI computer to required by our new health landscape
draw instantly on a large database of may well be markedly different than
scenarios means AI can respond to those that are needed today. We
questions, decisions or advice from currently train our doctors and nurses
a trainee and can challenge more in the context of health systems that
effectively than a human can. And the may no longer exist once they graduate
training programme can learn from medical school. An understanding
previous responses from the trainee, of technology will be imperative.
meaning that the challenges can be Programming, data analytics and
continually adjusted to meet their human behaviour may well be as much
learning needs. a part of the medical curricula as
anatomy and neurology.
And training can be done anywhere
with the power of AI embedded on AI and robotics technology will free up
a smartphone, for example, as quick clinicians for other types of work that
catch up sessions, after a tricky case in enable them to spend more meaningful
a clinic or while travelling. time with their patients. Rather than a
profession of ‘healthcare providers’, AI
To date, the main way new and robotics will open opportunities for
technologies have been used to more holistic patient care, with a focus
augment training is through virtual on keeping patients healthier longer,
reality (VR). Combining VR with AI instead of primarily treating illness.
will offer boundless opportunities for
extending the skills of trainees in a AI will likely challenge the traditional
targeted fashion. role of the doctor. But, rather than
worrying if these technologies are
AI and robotics are redrawing the going to replace doctors and other
healthcare landscape. The wave of healthcare professionals, we should be
innovation being driven by these considering more deeply their wider
technologies is not only transforming role in the entire healthcare continuum
clinical decision-making, patient with a clear eye towards training our
monitoring and care, and surgical healthcare workforce for the future.
support, but fundamentally changing
how we approach healthcare for
our populations. We are already
experiencing this shift as we focus on
integrating prevention and wellness
into our health systems and we are
heading towards a time when people
work more proactively with their
healthcare professionals across illness
and wellness.
8Investment
AI investment heats up
From predictive insights to Figure 1: Artificial Intelligence for Healthcare Applications, World, 2014, 2021 (in
Figure 1: Artificial Intelligence Market for Healthcare Applications,
Millions)
robotic surgery, investment World, 2014, 2021 (in Millions)
is booming
Investing in health is always a long-
term prospect, whether it is a matter
2014 663.8
of training a doctor, developing a
new drug, building a new facility
or developing AI and robotics. The
question is, given that long-term view,
2021 6,662
and the potential of AI and robotics,
where should that investment go?
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000
Already AI is coming of age, and the AI
healthcare market is poised for dramatic
Source: Frost & Sullivan 2016 Transforming healthcare through artificial intelligence systems
growth. Frost & Sullivan predicts
that the AI market for healthcare will
increase by 40% between 2014 and
In 2011 there were fewer than ten deals According to CB Insights, healthcare
2021. And they estimate growth from
related to healthcare AI; this leapt to is the hottest area of investment
US$633.8m to US$6.662bn9.
almost 70 deals in 2016. Some of the within AI. They identified over 100
2016 deals included a US$25m Series companies that have raised an equity
According to Frost & Sullivan analyst A round raised by London-based health funding round since January 201312.
Harpreet Singh Buttar, ‘By 2025, AI services startup, Babylon Health, and From insights and analytics, imaging
systems could be involved in everything a US$154m Series A round raised by and diagnostics, drug discovery to
from population health management, China-based iCarbonX11. remote patient monitoring and virtual
to digital avatars capable of answering assistants, AI is poised to impact every
specific patient queries.’10 aspect of healthcare.
9
Frost & Sullivan (2016). Transforming healthcare through artificial intelligence systems. AI Health and Life Sciences.
10
As quoted in Huffpost Tech UK, “Artificial Intelligence For Healthcare Is Booming”, by Reuven Cohen (31 Jan 2017). http://www.
huffingtonpost.co.uk/reuven-cohen/artificial-intelligence-f_b_14437718.html
11
CB Insights (Feb. 3, 2017). https://www.cbinsights.com/blog/artificial-intelligence-startups-healthcare/
12
Ibid.
13
CB Insights (Feb. 3, 2017). https://www.cbinsights.com/blog/artificial-intelligence-startups-healthcare/
9AI Investment Highlights13
Insights & risk analytics: Health Core AI companies bring their Virtual Assistants: This category has
insights and risk analytics has been algorithms to healthcare: Core AI a relatively low deal count, less than
the hottest category for investment start-up Ayasdi, which has developed ten since 2012, but has the potential
since 2015. Companies in this category a machine intelligence platform based for increased investment activity. One
provide predictive insights about a on topological data analysis, is bringing of the start-ups, Babylon Health in
patient’s health using machine learning its solutions to healthcare providers the United Kingdom, was backed last
and natural language processing for applications including patient risk year by investors including Kinnevik
algorithms. The analytics are based scoring and readmission reduction. and Google DeepMind in a US$25m
on factors that include medical history Series A round.
and demography. Drug discovery: This category
is gaining attention, and venture Mental Health: This is another
Imaging & diagnostics: This category capitalists have backed six out of the category with relatively low deal count,
has become more saturated with nine start-ups on the map, who are as well as fewer companies. Seed-stage
companies in recent years compared using machine learning algorithms to start-up Avalon uses AI to predict brain
to other areas of healthcare AI, with reduce drug discovery times. degeneration, and focuses on neuro-
more than 80% of deals raised after degenerative disease like Alzheimer’s
January 2015. Oncology: IBM Watson Group-backed and Parkinson’s.
Pathway Genomics has recently started
Remote patient monitoring: Deals to a research study for its new blood test Research: This category includes
the category have picked up since 2015, kit, CancerIntercept Detect. China-based iCarbonX, which joined
though there are fewer companies here the unicorn club in Q2 2016. Another
than in diagnostics or risk analytics. The company will collect blood start-up, Desktop Genetics, helps
London-based Babylon Health, backed samples from high-risk individuals who scientist with genome editing and
by investors including Kinnevik have never been diagnosed with the CRISPR research. It received funding
and Google-owned DeepMind disease to determine if early detection last year from genetic research
Technologies, raised a US$25m Series is possible. company Illumina.
A round in 2016 to develop an AI-based
chat platform. Emergency room & hospital Nutrition: Ireland-based Nuritas uses
management: Start-ups here provide artificial intelligence to mine data
insights and real-time analytics, and identify compounds in food that
specifically in a hospital environment. are beneficial to health. Marc Benioff
Gauss Surgical, for instance, uses invested over US$2m in the company
image recognition to monitor blood in Q2 2016.
loss during surgery in real time using
an iPad.
10Rise of the robots
Alongside AI, robotics is becoming one of the
hottest new markets in tech. According to New entrants, minimally invasive surgical robots17
IDC, the overall market has been growing
Verb Surgical is working with perform procedures within small-
at a compound rate of 17% a year and will
Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon to medium-size surgical spaces for
be worth US$135bn by 2019, with a boom
and Alphabet Inc’s Verily to general abdominal, gynecologic, and
taking place in Asia, Japan and China.
develop the generation of surgical urologic indications. The company is
robots, incorporating advanced pre-revenue. The company recently
Markets and Markets estimates that the
visualisation, machine learning, data raised CAD$15.1m through a
market for healthcare robotics will grow
analytics and connectivity. public offering.
to US$11.4bn by 202014. Surgical robots
comprise the largest component of the
Mazor Robotics Renaissance Hansen Medical develops,
medical robotics market, according to
surgical guidance system transforms manufactures, and sells medical
IndustryArc, specifically the use of robots
spine surgery from freehand robotics designed for the positioning,
to facilitate minimally invasive surgery
procedures to guided procedures. manipulation, and control of
(see box-out).
Mazor’s ADSs trade on the NASDAQ catheters. The company’s Magellan
under the symbol MZOR. The Robotic System controls the
Changes soon could cause something of a
company reported a 54% year-over- proprietary Magellan Robotic
shift in power around the operating table.
year Q4 2015 revenue increase Catheter, a telescoping and
Surgical robots may cease to be dumb,
to US$8.8m. robotically steerable catheter. In
programmable machines and transform
2016 the FDA approved Hansen’s
into smart assistants.
TransEnterix is a medical device Magellan Robotic Catheter eKit
company that is pioneering the use and a few days later, the company
Yet there is also growing opportunity
of robotics to improve minimally announced its first clinical procedure
in the home health and end of life care
invasive surgery. They are developing with the Magellan in the US.
space for robots. The global personal
and commercialising its ALF-X
robot market, including ‘care-bots’, could
System, a multi-port robotic surgery Stereotaxis designs, manufactures,
reach US$17.4bn by 2020, according
system that enables up to four arms and markets robotic systems and
to Frost & Sullivan, driven by rapidly
to control robotic instruments and a instruments for the treatment of
ageing populations, a looming shortfall
camera, and its SurgiBot System, a abnormal heart rhythms. Its products
of care workers, and the need to enhance
single-incision, patient-side robotic- include the Niobe ES robotic system
performance and assist rehabilitation of
assisted surgery system. and Vdrive system. Stereotaxis has
the elderly and physically handicapped.
strategic alliances with Siemens
Titan Medical is a development and Philips Medical Systems. The
Japan is leading the way with one-third of
stage company that is developing its company recently reported its first
the government budget on robots devoted
SPORT (Single Port Orifice Robotic quarter of positive free cash flow –
to the elderly. The Japanese ‘care-bot’
Technology) Surgical System of US$1.6m – which management
market alone is estimated to grow from
composed of a surgeon-controlled indicated helped drive a 71%
US$155m in 2015 to US$3.728 billion
robotic platform with 3D vision reduction in 2015 annual cash burn,
by 2035 (source: Ministry of Economy,
and interactive instrument control For FY 2015, Stereotaxis registered
Trade & Industry)15.
for performing minimally invasive total revenue of US$37.7m, which
surgery. The company believes represented an 8% year-over-
Bionics, exoskeletons and the next
SPORT will enable surgeons to year improvement.
generation wearable robot are
also becoming a reality and could
revolutionise how we treat and care for The sheer scope of opportunity raises Markets and Markets (Feb 2017).
14
those with diminished or lost functions many questions for investors. There http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/
due to ageing or physical challenges and are risks – competitive, regulatory and PressReleases/medical-robotic-systems.
injuries. The rehabilitation robot market market risk, among others. But with asp
was estimated at US$203m in 2014 and is healthcare undergoing such massive 15
Bank of America (2016). http://about.
expected grow to US$1.1bn by 202116. change, and the rapid progress of AI and bankofamerica.com/assets/davos-2016/
robotics, how safe are current, traditional PDFs/robotic-revolution.pdf
healthcare investment strategies? We 16
Bank of America (2016). http://about.
believe that healthcare is fundamentally
bankofamerica.com/assets/davos-2016/
about the most effective application
PDFs/robotic-revolution.pdf
of knowledge in order to keep people
healthy. As knowledge progresses, it is 17
MedDeviceOnline (February 12, 2016). New
the investor who has the power to bring Entrants to Open Up Surgical Robotics
that knowledge to life. Market. https://www.meddeviceonline.com/
doc/new-entrants-to-open-up-surgical-
robotics-market-0001
11Findings
The public is ready Trends did emerge across regions –
people in those countries with well-
In November 2016, we asked YouGov established, and therefore more rigid,
Research to conduct a survey of the healthcare systems were willing to
general public across Europe, the engage with a non-human healthcare
Middle East and Africa (EMEA) to provider, but less so than those in
understand 3 things: countries where healthcare still has the
• if there was the appetite to engage ability to shape and form.
with AI and robots for healthcare;
• the circumstances under which In fact, for all questions throughout the
there would be greater or lesser survey a pattern can be seen between
willingness to do so; and, developed and emerging economies:
• the perceived advantages and • Developed economies with
disadvantages of using AI and entrenched healthcare systems–
robots in healthcare. characterised by a high per capita
health spend and a long legacy
We surveyed over 11,000 people of universal healthcare coverage
across 12 countries and the evidence delivering good overall value –
strongly indicates that there is a occupy the bottom half of the scale
growing enthusiasm among consumers where respondents were less willing
to engage in new ways with new to rely on AI.
technology for their health and • Emerging economies are
wellness needs. significantly more willing to engage
with the new technologies. These
The message is clear; the public is countries have mixed degrees
ready and willing to substitute AI and of healthcare coverage (Turkey
robotics for humans. enacted universal healthcare in
2003, for example) but lower per
But behind that message is a lot capita health spend compared to
of important information that has developed economies. Some still
implications for how these new have access constraints and quality
technologies will shape New Health. disparities between public and
The findings of the survey suggest private care.
three key themes that are impacting • Countries in the Middle East sit in
how consumers are willing to engage the middle of our survey results.
with AI and robotics: These countries have a longer
• People are increasingly willing history with universal coverage
to engage with AI and robots if it and spend two to three times more
means better access to healthcare; per capita on healthcare than
• Speed and accuracy of diagnosis other emerging markets, but are
affected by workforce issues and
18
Total health expenditure (THE) in the
and treatment is a critical factor
capacity constraints18. developed economies in our survey (e.g.
for this willingness; and
UK, Northern and Central Europe) ranges
• Trust in the technology is vital for
However, there is generally a between $3,377 and $6,347 per capita.
wider use and adoption; the ‘human
surprisingly high willingness among Middle East countries range between
touch’ remains a key component of
all respondents to engage with AI and $2,400-3,000 per capita. South Africa and
the healthcare experience.
robots, regardless of country, gender or Turkey’s THE per capita is around $1,000,
age. From fitness counsel, monitoring while Nigeria has the lowest in the sample
and advice on diabetes and heart at $217 per capita. All amounts are Int$
conditions, to both minor and major (PPP) for 2014. Source: WHO Global
surgery, we found that consumers Health Expenditure Database
across demographics are willing to
consider non-traditional options for
managing and treating their health.
12Will AI replace the As a whole, across EMEA there is
more willingness than unwillingness
consultation? to engage with AI and robots, with
The human ‘face-to-face’ element of more than half willing (55%), one-
healthcare is traditionally cited as vital third unwilling (38%) and 7% neither
to healthcare. And yet most doctors willing nor unwilling.
probably spend more time going over
medical records and interpreting Yet when we looked at the individual
data from tests and other medical country data, there were interesting
interventions than actually spending findings. From almost four out of ten
time with their patients. respondents in the UK (39%) to more
than nine out of ten in Nigeria (95%),
As we’ve noted, there is already willingness to talk to and interact
existing technology that can perform with a device, platform or robot with
these functions. This may well evolve artificial intelligence varied widely.
into a human-like interface for patients Figure 2: Percentage of respondents willing/unwilling to engage
and consumers of healthcare services Figure
with2:AIP
ercentage of respondents
and robotics willing/unwilling
for their healthcare to engage
needs (total with AI and
sample)
– either remotely or in a clinical robotics for their healthcare needs (total sample)
environment – where the experience
will feel like an interaction with a
‘real’ doctor.
How willing are patients
55% 38% 7%
to interact with such
technology? Willing Unwilling Neither willing
We asked our survey participants nor unwilling
to consider advanced computer Source: PwC survey
technology or robots with AI that had
the ability to answer health questions,
perform tests, make a diagnosis based Figure 3: Percentage of respondents willing/unwilling to engage with AI and
on those test and symptoms, and robotics for their healthcare needs (by country)
recommend and administer treatment.
We wanted to understand how willing
Figure 3: Percentage of respondents willing/unwilling to engage with
94%
100
they would be to engage with this
Net: Willing Net: Unwilling
85%
technology if it was more accessible and
82%
90
could process health information faster
and more efficiently than their doctor
or other health professional. 80
66%
65%
AI and robotics for their healthcare needs (by country)
62%
70
55%
60
51%
51%
50%
50%
48%
44%
43%
50
41%
39%
39%
39%
40
26%
24%
24%
30
16%
20
11%
6%
10
0
Nigeria
Turkey
South Africa
Saudi Arabia
Qatar
UAE
UK
Netherlands
Belgium
Norway
Sweden
Germany
Source: PwC survey
13100
Figure 4: Percentage of respondents willing/unwilling to engage
90
80
While there was generally high Figure 4: P
ercentage of respondents willing/unwilling to engage with AI and
with AI and robotics for their healthcare needs (by age)
willingness to engage with AI and robotics for their healthcare needs (by age)
70
robots across all countries, a clear
Net: Willing Net: Unwilling
57%
56%
pattern emerged:
54%
60
• Nigeria, Turkey and South Africa
47%
45%
are significantly the most willing
44%
50
(94%, 85% and 82% respectively).
37%
• Two-thirds of the Middle East
40
32%
are willing, with percentages
28%
statistically the same across
26%
30
the region.
• The Netherlands (55%), Belgium
(51%), Norway (50%) and Sweden
20
(48%) are less willingness yet still
represent a significant percentage of
10
the sample.
• Germany and the UK are the only
0
countries where unwillingness
18 – 24
25 – 34
35 – 44
45 – 54
55+
(51% and 50% respectively) is
greater than willingness (41% and
39% respectively). Source: PwC survey
But the variation across countries should We then wanted to understand how taking pulse and blood pressure, testing
not be taken to mean there are not people felt about receiving health advice blood sugar levels, checking kidney
opportunities in every country for AI and and information remotely, from an function, and monitoring weight and
robotics to be adopted. In every country, ‘intelligent healthcare assistant’, via a level of exercise.
a highly significant proportion of the smartphone, tablet or personal computer
population is willing to engage with AI – in a situation that involved their own The patterns remained consistent with
and robotics for healthcare services. health and also for a loved one (such as the willingness to engage face-to-face,
Yet the findings clearly suggest that parent, spouse or child). We asked them with the exception of Germany and
implementation is key – the introduction to imagine a specific health situation the UK, where respondents were more
of AI and robotics for these services in each case. For their own situation, willing than unwilling in this specific
will need a different approach in the we asked them about remote diabetes situation, even though they remained the
different countries. monitoring and recommendations for least willing and most unwilling of all
any treatment or lifestyle changes that the countries.
There were some distinctions with were necessary – this would involve
regards to gender – men were generally
more willing than women (61% versus
use an 'intelligent healthcare assistant' via a smartphone,
Figure 5: Percentage of respondents willing/unwilling to use an ‘intelligent
Figure 5: Percentage of respondents willing/unwilling to
55%), yet women were significantly more
healthcare assisstant’ via a smartphone, tablet or personal computer
willing than men in Turkey (91% versus
Net: Willing Net: Unwilling
95%
80%), Norway (57% versus 42%) and
89%
84%
Sweden (54% versus 41%).
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
74%
72%
67%
This was the pattern across all countries
60%
59%
58%
with the exceptions of Nigeria, where the
53%
51%
most willing were aged 18-24 (95%) and
47%
41%
40%
over the age of 45 (100%), and Turkey,
38%
34%
36%
where willingness increased with age
28%
24%
23%
(from 82% to 89%).
tablet or personal computer
16%
15%
9%
5%
Nigeria
Turkey
South Africa
Saudi Arabia
Qatar
UAE
UK
Netherlands
Norway
Belgium
Sweden
Germany
Source: PwC survey
14an 'intelligent healthcare assistant' via a smartphone, tablet or
Figure 6: Percentage of respondents willing/unwilling to use
When the situation involved a loved Figure 6: Percentage of respondents willing/unwilling to use an ‘intelligent
one, the respondents were less willing, healthcare assisstant’ via a smartphone, tablet or personal computer
though not substantially so. Specifically, for a loved one (e.g. child, parent)
personal computer for a loved one (e.g. child, parent).
we asked them to imagine that a loved Net: Willing Net: Unwilling
91%
one was feeling unwell and they needed
85%
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
advice about treatment. This would
79%
involve making a diagnosis based
70%
64%
on their symptoms, medical history
56%
54%
and vital signs (pulse, blood pressure
53%
48%
49%
45%
48%
46%
46%
46%
and temperature).
42%
37%
33%
34%
32%
While the patterns from country-to-
21%
20%
country remained consistent, with
12%
significantly higher willingness for
Nigeria, Turkey and South Africa, and 9%
high willingness across the Middle
East, respondents across Northern and
Western Europe expressed significantly
Nigeria
Turkey
South Africa
Saudi Arabia
Qatar
UAE
Norway
Netherlands
Belgium
Sweden
Germany
UK
less willingness. In Sweden, Germany
and the UK those who were reluctant
to use this technology for their loved
ones outnumbered those who would
be willing. Source: PwC survey
Again, percentages of willingness
remained high, reinforcing the indication
for different implementation strategies.
Figure 7: Procedures respondents were most willing to recieve from an AI/robot, when asked to rank three
Monitor my
heart condition Based on test
(e.g. pulse, results, my
blood Administer a Provide preferences
pressure, ECG test that checks customised and drawing
etc.), take my heartbeat’s advice for on medical
note of my rhythm and fitness and Take and research,
symptoms, make health based on test a blood advise me on Prepare and Stitch and
and advise on recommenda my personal sample and the best give an injection bandage a Set a bro
heart condition tions based on preferences and provide me treatments for of medicine/an minor cut or bone and
treatment the results health records with results cancer immunisation wound into a cas
41% 37% 37% 32% 17% 11% 10% 7%
Source: PwC survey
15Service preferences • Provide customised advice for Furthermore, it’s worth noting that
fitness and health based on my a remarkably high percentage of
A significant percentage of respondents respondents in a majority of countries
personal preferences and health
were highly willing to choose would be willing to receive advice on
records (37%).
certain treatments, tests or services treating cancer. And even though the UK
• Take and test a blood sample and
administered by an AI or robot and there and Germany had a significant number of
provide me with the results (32%).
was widespread agreement about these people unwilling to use such technology
Consistent with our 2016 report
services across the countries surveyed. for any type of health service or
Care Anywhere: Moving health and
wellness out of the hospital and into procedure compared to other countries,
Specifically, consumers across the there is still greater willingness than
the hands of the consumer, these
region were most willing – by a unwillingness; again, important to note
findings suggest that the public is
significant margin – to receive four when it comes to implementation.
most willing to use AI and robotics for
types of services:
monitoring and providing advice. But
• Monitor my heart condition
this survey has also shown they are
(e.g. pulse, blood pressure,
willing to replace a human for these
electrocardiography (ECG), etc.),
same services. In a world increasingly
take note of my symptoms, and
dominated by chronic disease this has
advise on heart condition treatment
a major implication for ambulatory or
(41%).
clinic-based care.
• Administer a test that checks my
heartbeat’s rhythm and make
However, while every country surveyed
recommendations based on the
agreed that these four services were
results (37%).
the ones they would be most willing
to receive, the priorities were slightly
different from country to country.
? X
Not applicable
– I would not
be willing to
use an
advanced
computer/
robot with
Monitor me and artificial
d provide general intelligence for
a Set a broken care/offer any type of
t or bone and put it advice during Deliver my procedure/
into a cast pregnancy baby Other Don’t know service
0% 7% 5% 1% 1% 10% 20%
16Figure 8: H ealthcare
Figure service service
8: Healthcare priorities, by country
priorities, by country
Monitor my
heart condition Based on test
(e.g. pulse, results, my
blood Administer a Provide preferences
pressure, ECG test that checks customised and drawing
etc.), take my heartbeat’s advice for on medical
note of my rhythm and fitness and Take and research,
symptoms, make health based on test a blood advise me on Prepare and Stitch and
and advise on recommenda my personal sample and the best give an injection bandage a Set a broke
heart condition tions based on preferences and provide me treatments for of medicine/an minor cut or bone and p
treatment the results health records with results cancer immunisation wound into a cast
Belgium 34% 42% 34% 29% 13% 10% 9% 5%
Germany 35% 29% 33% 16% 12% 10% 8% 6%
Saudi Arabia 41% 32% 36% 31% 22% 12% 11% 10%
Netherlands 33% 38% 30% 27% 15% 10% 9% 4%
Nigeria 62% 46% 53% 42% 28% 8% 17% 12%
Norway 33% 32% 38% 39% 17% 9% 6% 3%
Qatar 44% 40% 46% 42% 19% 9% 9% 7%
South Africa 53% 47% 46% 43% 21% 11% 11% 9%
Sweden 37% 32% 31% 33% 9% 5% 8% 4%
Turkey 39% 35% 38% 40% 32% 13% 13% 10%
UAE 38% 31% 33% 30% 19% 11% 15% 11%
UK 34% 33% 29% 28% 9% 9% 8% 4%
All 41% 37% 37% 32% 17% 11% 10% 7%
1st choice 2nd choice 3rd choice
Source: PwC commissioned survey (2017)
17? X
Not applicable
– I would not
be willing to
use an
advanced
computer/
robot with
Monitor me and artificial
and provide general intelligence for
ge a Set a broken care/offer any type of
cut or bone and put it advice during Deliver my procedure/
into a cast pregnancy baby Other Don’t know service
9% 5% 8% 2% 1% 10% 19%
8% 6% 3% 0% 0% 11% 25%
1% 10% 0% 0% 1% 14% 6%
9% 4% 4% 1% 1% 12% 20%
7% 12% 9% 3% 1% 1% 2%
6% 3% 4% 0% 1% 9% 19%
9% 7% 1% 1% 0% 7% 12%
1% 9% 11% 2% 2% 2% 7%
8% 4% 1% 1% 1% 10% 22%
3% 10% 11% 4% 1% 3% 8%
5% 11% 5% 2% 0% 11% 8%
8% 4% 3% 1% 0% 9% 31%
0% 7% 5% 1% 1% 10% 20%
18Minor, minimally-invasive surgery (e.g. cataract surgery or lase
eye surgery etc.)
73%
Nigeria
25%
Will robots replace Minor surgery Turkey
Major surgery 66%
surgeons in the 28%
Nigeria, Turkey and South Africa were the Even so, Nigeria, Turkey and South
operating theatre? most willing to undergo minor surgery 62willing
%
South Africa Africa were35 far more
%
(69%,
performed by robots (73%, 66% and 62% 60% and 51% respectively) than
In the three decades since robots respectively), with the UK the least unwilling to undergo55%major surgery
first began performing surgery, the willing (36%). In Belgium, the UK,
Qatar performed by 38 a robot.
% Again, the
exponential advances in robotic Germany and Sweden the unwilling UK was the least willing
55% of all the
technology are enhancing a surgeon’s respondents outnumbered the Saudi Arabia
willing, 32% (27%) and Belgium
yet countries surveyed
ability to see, feel and do. Autonomous those countries still have over one-third of (60%), Germany (59%), the UK (58%),
surgery performed by robots, replacing 50%
the public still willing to undergo suchUAE Sweden (55%), the Netherlands (53%)
the surgeon, is likely to further the a procedure.
38 %
and Norway (51%) were all much more
effectiveness, safety, consistency, and
Figure 9: Percentage
unwilling than47
willing/unwilling
willing
% to to have minor surge
undergo
accessibility of surgical techniques. For Netherlands 46
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the performed by a robot instead of a doctora robot.
situation major surgery %
performed by
example, experimental studies have changed dramatically when it came to
Minor,
46%
already shown autonomous robots major surgery. We defined major minimally-invasive
Norway
surgery surgery
42%(e.g. cataract surgery or lase
to perform higher quality suturing as invasive surgery – such eye surgery etc.)
as replacement
than surgeons. 43%
of a knee or hip joint, removal ofGermany
a tumour, 47%
or heart surgery – and found much higher
9: Percentage willing/unwilling to have minor surgery
Are consumers ready? 43% 73%
minimally-invasive surgery (e.g. cataract surgery or laser
unwillingness for a robot to perform a
Sweden
Nigeria
major procedure instead of a doctor. 25 % 47%
We asked our survey participants if they
39% 66%
would be willing for a robot to perform a Belgium
Turkey
Figure 9: Percentage willing/unwilling to have minor 28 % 53
surgery %
performed by a
minor or major surgical procedure instead
Net: Unwilling
robot instead of a doctor 36% 62%
of a doctor if studies showed that they
South AfricaUK 49% or laser eye
could do it better than a doctor (e.g. more 35 %
Minor, minimally-invasive surgery (e.g. cataract surgery
quickly, more accurately, with a faster surgery etc.) 55%
Qatar Net: Willing % Net: Unwilling
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
recovery time). 0 10 20 30 40 3850 60 70 80 90 100
performed by a robot instead of a doctor
73%
55%
66%
Source: PwC survey
62%
• We defined a minor surgical Saudi Arabia
55%
55%
32%
53%
50%
49%
procedure as a non-invasive or
47%
46%
47%
47%
46%
43%
43%
50%
39%
minimally-invasive surgery, such 42%
38%
38%
36%
UAE
35%
38%
32%
Net: Willing
as cataract surgery or laser eye
28%
25%
surgery, and found that, overall,
Netherlands
47%
close to half and up to 73% of all 46%
respondents would be willing to 46%
undergo minor surgery performed Norway 42%
by a robot instead of a doctor.
43%
eye surgery etc.)
personal preferences and health Germany
Nigeria
Turkey
South Africa
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Netherlands
Norway
Germany
Sweden
Belgium
UK
records (37%).
47%
surgery
• Take and test a blood sample and 43%
remove
Sweden 47%
provide me with the results (32%).
Figure
Minor,
39%
Figure 10: Percentage willing/unwilling to have major
Belgium 53%
Major, invasive surgery (e.g. replace a knee or hip joint,
Figure 10: P ercentage willing/unwilling to have minor surgery performed by a
90 100Unwilling
robot instead of a doctor 36%
UK 49%
ajor, invasive surgery (e.g. replace a knee or hip joint, remove a tumor,
M
heart surgery)
Net: Willing Net: Unwilling
performed by a robot instead of a doctor
40 50 60 70 80 Net:
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
69%
60%
Source: PwC survey
60%
59%
58%
55%
53%
51%
51%
45%
45%
45%
44%
44%
44%
41%
40%
35%
35%
32%
34%
20 30Willing
30%
29%
27%
0 10 Net:
a tumour, heart surgery)
Nigeria
Turkey
South Africa
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Netherlands
Sweden
Norway
Belgium
Germany
UK
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