Ensuring the right products and options for patients

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC: How far would the Health Insurance Task Force's proposals go to rein in rising healthcare costs?

Bob White President, Asia-Pacific Medtronic

THE Health Insurance Task Force's proposals will bring alignment to the overall system - the first step towards rethinking how we should pay for healthcare. In particular, consistent guidelines for the care of costly, chronic conditions would promote integration across a patient's care continuum. Healthcare systems need to shift from volume to value in order to manage costs more effectively. Stakeholders have to think beyond episodic care and focus on value-based initiatives that take into account clinical, economic and patient outcomes. Value-based healthcare, re-architecting healthcare delivery and payment systems to better reward improved patient outcomes should be our aim.