Finance Monthly April 2020 Edition

first care system be realised by providing the financial resources to companies trying to do so. The UK’s leading symptom assessment provider to the NHS, Doctorlink, made updates to detect potential COVID-19 cases as soon as the novel coronavirus was announced in January – and has been evolving in line with best practice and new knowledge ever since. As of 24th March, the company had implemented eleven updates to the digital triage technology to detect potential cases of COVID-19 and will likely have made many further changes in line with NHSE and PHE guidance by the time you read this. This digital triage eases the burden on the NHS and has created a more cost-effective and efficient healthcare solution. Results evidence a significant drop in call volumes – by a third – as well as significant cost and time savings for clinicians, to the tune of 15,000 clinical hours per practice each year. HealthTech can quickly solve otherwise critical problems and fulfil the growing demand. While adoption has been gradual until now, the current global health crisis has created an incredible surge in demand. This leads to a reliable prediction of material acceleration in adoption in the coming months, leaving space for HealthTech to hold its spot on the top of popularity lists for customer adoption and investor interest. So long as several factors are considered and risks are assessed, HealthTech represents an attractive investment in these unprecedented times. It is important to remember to make investment choices on something with proven success. There are lots of solutions on the market in test, in pilot, or making outrageous claims and it can be difficult to discern between viable opportunities and those which will waste your time. If a solution is being used in one part of the market and has passed all accreditations, regulatory requirements, and has applications in a broader market, then it might be a great investment with the right management team. For those considering medium-term investment propositions, there are a lot of companies out there that create value in the market to providers and patients, while also offering a socially responsible opportunity for investors. It is clear: COVID-19 has changed everything. INVESTMENT - HEALTHTECH 51 www.finance-monthly.com