In order to meet the increased demands on welfare, parts of the healthcare services need to be digitized. Medication robots are highlighted as crucial for improving efficiency and quality. The question is not if, but when the first major steps will be taken in Sweden.
This is the belief of Göran Sjönell, a general practitioner and creator of the medication robot Dosell, as well as Ludvig Arbin, former county councilor in Uppsala County, in a debate article in Offentliga Affärer. Both are board members of the life science company iZafe Group AB.
Here is the full debate article:
Those who understand the value of welfare technology and digital aids in healthcare also know that it is high time to introduce medication robots. They ensure that medications are administered at the right time and dosage, thus reducing the risk of medication errors. In Norway, this understanding has led to a joint procurement by 62 municipalities, showcasing commendable efficiency.
We are growing older. According to Statistics Sweden (SCB), the number of people over 80 years old is expected to increase by 50 percent between 2017 and 2027. Fortunately, the number of healthy life years is also increasing, but so are the needs for medication and care. This creates significant pressure on elderly care, and the risk of medication errors, already at an unacceptable level, increases.
Working smarter
Even with significant financial resources to meet these needs, there are difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff. Thousands of new healthcare assistants and nursing aides are needed every year. That is why the government’s investment in elderly care is an immensely important initiative. However, it is not enough to rely on the same methods as today. We need to work smarter and safer to ensure a secure elderly care system. This is where digitalization and medication robots come into play.
Assisting with medication
A medication robot helps care recipients to take their medications correctly and facilitates patient safety in self-care. The robot dispenses medications in the correct dosage and at the right time, and alerts the user when it is time to take the medications. If the user fails to take the medication, an alarm is sent to healthcare providers and caregivers. This ensures adherence to the prescribed medication regimen.
The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare’s report “E-health and Welfare Technology in Municipalities 2020” confirms the trends observed in Norway in recent years. To meet the increasing demands on welfare, parts of the services and offerings must be digitalized. Medication robots are highlighted as important for improving efficiency and quality. The question is not if, but when the first major steps will be taken in Sweden.
The importance of human interaction
Welfare technology should not replace the human touch in care. Human interaction is a vital factor in health, especially for lonely elderly individuals. In Norway, the focus is not solely on the most advanced technology but on creating sustainable healthcare and social services. We should use technology and digitalization to enhance safety and free up time for what only we humans can do: take care of each other.
In March, Peter Larsson presented the report “Future Technology in the Service of Care (SOU 2020:14).” It states that digital technology releases resources that can be allocated to tasks that cannot be automated, such as human care. A medication robot allows the time currently spent on home visits to deliver medication to be redirected to visits with more care-related content.
Safer medication administration
The government is investing SEK 430 million in 2020 to strengthen digitalization in healthcare and elderly care. Within elderly care, this includes implementing digital solutions to make medication administration safer. Let us hope that these funds are invested wisely.
Technology that facilitates healthcare and social services is rapidly advancing. Norway has already taken significant steps by conducting a large-scale procurement of medication robots in a short period of time. In Sweden, the state has identified the great potential of welfare technology and allocated funds accordingly. It is now time for municipalities and regions to look west, get off the starting blocks, and realize the future of digitized healthcare and social services.
Göran Sjönell
General Practitioner, creator of the medication robot Dosell
Ludvig Arbin
Former County Councilor in Uppsala County
Both are board members of the life science company iZafe Group AB.