Saturday, 19 March 2011: 09:20
The macroeconomic impact of health technologies is currently being discussed from two points of view: On the one hand assistive technologies are regarded as a potential factor for rising health care costs and therefore an impediment to economic development, while on the other hand they are increasingly considered as a key driver for economic growth and employment. The aim of this conference contribution is to present current findings from both perspectives and to shed some light on which conditions (a.o. financing, international competitiveness) are likely to foster a positive economic impact. Besides a macroeconomic overview of economic impact of health technologies, we review current case studies for assistive technologies in order to discuss specific effects of assistive technologies in nursing and health care. An overall assessment is difficult as the effects of new markets in nursing and health care with a high potential for growth and improvements in performance through assistive technologies are partly offset by the substitution of existing products and services. Moreover, the impacts on professional and social roles, social security systems and their financing are highly complex. In this discussion we try to explore for which factors cost or value added changes may occur, as potential discrepancies in terms of providing services and gaining benefits may be a significant hindrance for joined efforts to realise the potential of assistive technologies.