What are the major challenges facing the healthcare industry in 2021?

The world is not the same anymore post-Covid. Going through a fragile financial state, the healthcare industry is facing multiple challenges and seeking new opportunities for growth in a post-Covid world. The available Covid vaccines are likely to erase the signs of the pandemic from society this year and the healthcare industry would like to overcome the ongoing challenges to emerge as a winner. The article will discuss the major challenges the healthcare industry is facing in 2021 and the positive changes that the pandemic has brought to the sector! 

Major challenges

From tirelessly working round-the-clock to risking their lives while treating Covid patients, healthcare professionals have been doing their job bravely and responsibly. However, this is not the only challenge they faced and still facing. A lot of other challenges have hit the industry hard. Let’s take a look at the major ones.  

Prepare a system to handle mass crisis such as a pandemic
One of the major challenges the healthcare industry has today is preparing a strong and robust system to handle mass crisis situations such as a pandemic. Covid not just left the global healthcare sector exhausted but revealed the incapability of handling a global healthcare crisis like Corona. The industry needs to be aware and prepare to serve the post-pandemic society.

Handle delayed treatment
A huge number of patients remained unattended or their treatment was delayed due to the pandemic. The challenge for the healthcare industry is to resume treating those patients. The pandemic is still here and that doubles the challenge for healthcare professionals. Delayed treatment at times makes it worse for the patient, not just physically but mentally as well. The caregivers have to treat these patients in a much more careful manner.  

Communication with patients and consumers
The communication with patients and consumers in a post-Covid world will not ever be the same. Earlier, the primary mode of communication with the patients used to be face to face. Now, virtual communication is becoming a new normal to keep patients and healthcare professionals safe. The challenge here is that virtual communication may lead to miscommunication sometimes and that cannot be an option when it comes to health. Healthcare professionals need to establish an effective communication system to interact with patients and consumers leaving no scope for miscommunication. 

Financial pressure
Although it’s believed that no recession can hamper the financial health of the healthcare industry, the time today is in a different state. Funds have naturally been shifted towards the battle against coronavirus. Due to Covid, the industry observed a huge drop in the number of patients visiting private healthcare centres incurring a mammoth financial loss. 

Also, unemployment has been believed to hit an all-time low in decades due to the pandemic. As health insurance is generally tied-up with employment, it’s becoming another challenge for the healthcare industry on the financial front.  

Hike in Healthcare costs
Ensuring everyone’s safety has been the prime concern of the hospitals and clinics during the pandemic. The healthcare staff is compelled to install machines for complete sanitation of the healthcare premises, use PPE kits, wear masks, and other safety gear. These safety measures are likely to increase the cost of healthcare services. The challenge for the industry is to try keeping the costs at a minimum level while providing quality medical care to patients.  

The health of the Healthcare Professionals
One of the most relevant challenges for healthcare professionals in 2021 is their health. A lot of caregivers struggled with their health while treating others during the pandemic. The frontline healthcare professionals were left physically and mentally exhausted while working in extreme conditions to help the infected. This has led to post-traumatic stress disorder among them. Now, the challenge for the healthcare staff is to overcome this stress and come out as winners to lead society towards better health. 

Opportunities for growth in a post-Covid society

Although the Covid crisis has brought numerous challenges for the healthcare industry, it has positively pushed technical advancements in the industry opening up a wide range of opportunities for growth. Virtual medical assistance, home testing and care, and telemedicine have been brought to the forefront by the pandemic. Private healthcare services providers are expecting significant growth in these areas to regain their financial health and it’s likely to ease the pressure on the overburdened healthcare system.