April 7th isn’t just another day on the calendar—it’s World Health Day. A day to remind ourselves of our fundamental right to health and well-being. A day that serves as a global call to action to examine the state of collective health and explore areas of improvement.
But in a world grappling with everything from chronic diseases to overburdened hospitals, the big question is: How do we build a healthier future for everyone?
The answer is simple—Technology. However, how can we leverage this innovative tech to address pressing health challenges?
Why World Health Day matters
Since 1950, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has used World Health Day to spread awareness about vital healthcare concerns and bring them under the spotlight. It’s a yearly reminder that access to health is a right and not a privilege.
From mental wellness and universal health to frontline workers, WHO selects a new theme every year to represent urgent health concerns.
This year, the conversation is shifting to “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures” — a year-long campaign on maternal and newborn health.
Let’s talk about how healthtech is stepping up to solve them.
Global health crisis we’re facing today
Health challenges are escalating at an unprecedented rate. According to WHO:
- 71% of global deaths happen due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, cancer and heart diseases. They impose enormous financial strain on the global economy with cost projections exceeding $47 trillion between 2011 and 2030.
- With 1 in 8 people worldwide suffering from mental health disorders, the current healthcare system falls short in its preparedness to handle it.
- COVID-19 showed how weak and unprepared our global healthcare systems are for large-scale health emergencies like pandemics and epidemics.
These statistics are alarming. They show the need for technology to fill these gaps. That’s where healthtech comes in.
Healthtech: The new frontier of healthcare
Healthtech is a combination of medicine and technology. It has transformed healthcare by implementing AI, IoT systems and big data for innovative medical solutions. Startups and established companies are developing healthtech solutions for patients to access better services at more affordable prices.
Healthtech is reshaping how we prevent, diagnose and treat diseases by making healthcare smarter, faster and more accessible. Here’s how:
- Telemedicine breaks geographical barriers by letting you visit your doctor without leaving your couch.
- AI diagnostics that can flag diseases faster than traditional methods.
- Wearables that track your vitals like heart rate, blood oxygen, and sleep patterns in real-time and alert you when something’s off.
- Genomic medicine allows doctors to tailor treatment to your unique DNA.
And it’s not just buzz—it’s big business. The global medical devices market is set to reach $957.8 billion by 2033, and telehealth is expected to grow at nearly 18% CAGR through 2030.
The market growth represents more than commercial success. It shows how tech allows people to seize control of their health by accessing data-based personalised treatments.
Prominent healthtech startups: A snapshot
The intersection of health and technology has birthed a dynamic ecosystem of healthtech companies and startups, each striving to revolutionise healthcare delivery. In response to the identified technological gaps, a wave of promising startups is emerging, with the following five representing the forefront of this movement.
Medi Builder
The startup focused on medical device ideas extends its services as a commercial viability evaluation unit. Medi Builder helps founders understand market requirements, and assess regulatory standards and industry competition for medical devices. Its modelling capabilities assist medical device inventors and startups in improving their ideas while resolving key difficulties ahead of time to enhance their industry opportunities.
Ro
Ro operates as a telehealth provider by delivering digital health clinics for everything from sexual health to smoking cessation programs. Their healthcare offering includes digital consultations with tailored treatment plans along with medication distribution and recurring patient care services.
Noom
This digital health platform uses a psychology-based approach to offer personalised nutrition and exercise coaching. Noom helps users develop healthier habits for sustainable weight loss and overall well-being. It provides daily lessons, tracking tools, and access to personal coaches. They have also introduced Noom Med, which combines psychological support with GLP-1 weight loss medications for eligible users.
Practo
The Practo network now connects patients to multiple healthcare opportunities through its expanded multi-purpose platform. Through its platform, Practo enables users to schedule appointments in advance while conducting telemedicine visits and obtaining their medicine delivered to their location.
Practice management software found on the platform helps hospitals and clinics execute administrative work more efficiently and streamlines their operational processes. Practo continues to grow by extending its services beyond core offerings into diagnostic facilities and plans to partner with co-branded physical clinic ventures offering dental and dermatological services.
The technological gap: Challenges faced by healthtech
Despite progress, significant gaps remain:
Accessibility and affordability
The affordability of modern advanced healthcare solutions remains out of reach for people with limited financial resources. Startups need to develop small and affordable innovative diagnostic technologies such as AI chatbots and foldable ultrasound tools for basic healthcare.
Data privacy and security
Cybersecurity is a critical requirement because digital health records have become more widespread. Zero-trust architectures, when combined with blockchain technologies, guarantee security for sensitive patient health information.
Integration with existing systems
The majority of healthtech solutions operate in silos. Wide-scale adoption of new healthtech solutions requires interoperable systems to connect devices and software evenly with existing hospital equipment and software.
Regulatory hurdles
Healthtech companies often face lengthy approval processes. Collaborations between governments, researchers, and startups can accelerate regulatory pathways without compromising safety.
How startups and researchers can drive change
Recognising the scale of these issues, we must now consider how startups and researchers can actively drive the necessary change.
Focus on underserved populations
Innovations should target rural areas, low-income countries, and marginalised communities. For example, portable diagnostic kits bring testing to remote villages.
Leverage AI for preventive care
AI technology enables early prediction of disease outbreak patterns and personal health risks before progression. Catching illnesses early means fewer hospital visits and healthier populations.
Foster public-private partnerships
Private entities and governments need to collaborate for research funding purposes while simplifying regulations and building new infrastructure systems. WHO’s Global Digital Health Certification Network set a precedent.
Educate and empower patients
Technology finds its effectiveness through human utilisation. User-friendly programs and health literacy initiatives encourage people to manage their health status actively.
The bottom line
World Health Day isn’t just about reflection—it’s about action.
We’re at a turning point where technology can genuinely bridge the gap between healthcare challenges and solutions. Governments must fund and regulate it, healthcare providers must adopt it, startups must innovate it, and all of us must embrace it.
This World Health Day 2025, let’s champion smarter, more inclusive, and tech-driven health solutions.
-By Alkama Sohail and the AHT Team
