When Elon Musk’s people literally implanted a ‘brain-reading’ device into the brain of a human subject, it figuratively implanted another idea into the collective consciousness of humankind.

This is the concept of a futuristic healthcare ecosystem that goes beyond nationalism and governance and into private enterprise or ultra-ambitious selfcare. And, let’s face it, who would not be seduced by big tech’s intervention, especially if it meant the ‘next day delivery’ of appointments, surgery or access to life-transforming medicines.

The sparks of revolution have been triggered by the perfect storm – the promise of digital innovation, the spectre of AI and the reality that the crumbling NHS monolith is currently surviving on the fumes of sentimentality.

In no other walk of life would we stay loyal to a service that won’t engage with you for five weeks (I could be dead in four!). But that is changing – young people do not so readily celebrate something that they have always known to be one-star terrible, while the broader population is moving towards a system that has flexible functionality.

We are at the precipice of a seismic change in which the true potential of pharma and healthcare professionals can be released, from the ailing hands of a once-great giant into the infinite virtual palms of several others. The handover will happen, but it can’t without our participation – our control.

Big tech has made its move, now we must make ours.

John Pinching
editor

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