Asia's Healthcare Leaders Prioritize Digital Transformation for 2025
Seoul, Thursday, 9 January 2025.
A recent survey highlights digital transformation and smart healthcare systems as top priorities for Asia’s healthcare leaders, with contributions from South Korea’s Samsung Medical Centre.
Survey Reveals Critical Healthcare Challenges
The comprehensive survey of healthcare executives has identified manpower shortage as the primary challenge facing Asian healthcare in 2025, particularly in recruiting and retaining skilled professionals [1]. Financial constraints are affecting over 20% of healthcare institutions, with rising staff costs and operational expenses straining budget management [1]. The integration of new technologies within existing infrastructure remains a significant hurdle, complicated by implementation knowledge gaps [1].
South Korea Leads Digital Healthcare Innovation
Samsung Medical Centre has emerged as a global leader in healthcare digitalization, achieving an unprecedented milestone as the only hospital worldwide to secure HIMSS Stage 7 validations across four critical areas: analytics maturity, infrastructure, EMR, and digital imaging [1]. This achievement, as confirmed by Dr Jong-Soo Choi, Chief Technical Officer, demonstrates South Korea’s commitment to advancing smart healthcare solutions [1].
Regional Digital Transformation Challenges
Healthcare institutions across Asia are facing varying degrees of success in their digital transformation journey. In Malaysia, the healthcare sector is experiencing a slowdown in digital adoption due to rising costs and staffing challenges [1]. G Saravanan, Group Chief Information Officer of Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara, highlights the need for strategic approaches to overcome these digitalization hurdles [1].
Patient-Centric Focus and Regulatory Compliance
The survey reveals that approximately 10% of healthcare leaders are prioritizing patient safety and satisfaction, emphasizing the importance of patient-centric care approaches [1]. Additionally, healthcare institutions are grappling with evolving regulatory requirements, as government agencies continue to implement new healthcare standards and regulations [1]. This dual focus on patient care and compliance is shaping the strategic direction of healthcare organizations across Asia [1].