Philips : rsquo; Deeptha Khanna discusses the role of technology in consumer health and well-being at annual TNW (@thenextweb) Conference in Amsterdam

Q: How personal is too personal?

A: I think that we are always on a continuous journey, but over the last decade we have become receptive to technology in many facets of our lives. So I think what we are receptive to, and what we find concerning, changes over time. But when you are an innovator in this space, informed consent and the highest standards of security and privacy are essential. Then it's a win-win situation.

Q: What will digital healthcare look like in the next ten years?

A: At Philips, we talk about something called the Quadruple Aim. One: to improve the health and well-being outcomes of the people we serve - consumers and patients; two: to improve the patient experience; three: to improve the experience of the care provider; four: to improve access to care. Philips wants to reach and improve the lives of 2.5 billion people and these four aims encapsulate where we want to see digital health go. We want to see technology leveraged to deliver better care, better experiences both for you and those who take care of you, and achieve the accessibility and reach needed to fulfil people's health needs.

Q: Why do you think we are at such a pivotal moment in healthcare history?

A: I think the pandemic has quite a lot to do with it. Although there has been a rapid embrace of digital health and technology in all aspects of healthcare over the last decade, the pandemic has accelerated everyone's awareness of how vital the basics of health are to all of us. It's something that's now got our attention, certainly from a consumer perspective. The pandemic has also illustrated the scarcity of trained healthcare professionals, so if you can use technology to democratize care you can amplify the reach of those healthcare professionals we do have. So to me, the pandemic has definitely been a catalyst for change.

Q: How do you see the shift from Philips as a product-centric company to a human-centric digital health company?

A: It's been a really exciting experience for everyone in Philips over recent years, including myself. I think that when we articulate the Quadruple Aim of care, it clearly illustrates our purpose to improve people's health and well-being through meaningful innovation. Philips is an iconic 130-year-old company, which in its DNA has been about innovation and engineering, creating ideas that can transform your home and your well-being. But our focus has always been to serve unmet needs - and that's what the Quadruple Aim expresses.