Brief overview:
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Today we looked into the biobusiness sector, focusing on the biomedical and healthcare aspects. There are 2 main types of diseases, namely chronic diseases such as diabetes and AIDS, as well as communicable diseases such as respiratory system infections. The first trend observed regarding these 2 diseases is that while more-developed countries suffer from a high number of chronic disease cases as compared to communicable diseases, countries such as Africa were quite the opposite and suffered from a high number of communicable disease cases instead. Furthermore, from 1990 to 2020, chronic diseases have taken over communicable diseases as the leading causes of global deaths and disability. What these figures suggest is that even though some countries become more developed and are able to better combat communicable diseases by providing better living standards and sanitization, they now come face to face with a new type of disease known as chronic diseases.
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We have also looked into the healthcare revolution, where technology changes the way in which the healthcare industry operates. Treatment standards are improved with telemedicine as this allows doctors from different countries to communicate beyond borders and exchange ideas in regard to new treatments. The BioTech revolution also sees the increase in productivity of new vaccines and drugs with the assistance of technology. Contract Research Organizations also attribute to this increase in productivity as they are specialized in the research of these new drugs.
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Interesting Ideas:
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Is it possible to rid the world of diseases of any sort with the use of technology? With the advancements of technology, many new solutions to treat existing illnesses are being discovered rapidly. Take for example, regarding the recent SARS epidermic in the world, many scientists were soon researching and producing vaccines in order to combat the spread of this deadly virus. Though not all vaccines were effective, it can be seen how quickly the world can now react to and combat new diseases. Improvements in infrastructure such as the provision of clean water, good sanitization and improved hygiene can also help in battling communicable diseases such as the diarrhoeal disease.
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However, it is interesting to note from the trends mentioned in the brief overview that while we are able to solve many diseases of the past, many new diseases are also emerging. These new diseases, also known as the "disease of excess", could possibly be caused by our lifestyles which are influenced by technology. I feel that diseases such as high blood pressure and obesity result from our over dependence on technology where commuting is now so convenient. Fast-food that can now be prepared and served instantly also cause harm to our bodies if not eaten in moderation. Hence, while technology could assist us in battling some of these diseases, the convenience that it provides us with could also lead to the emergence of new diseases.
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Key takeways:
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I feel that the prevention of diseases in the form of good healthcare is both the responsibility of the government as well as the individuals themselves. Governments can do their part by providing good sanitization and clean water, thus effectively combating communicable diseases. Public education about healthy living is also important for the citizens to be aware of the causes of these diseases.
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Individuals themselves also have a huge part to play. By eating in moderation and exercising regularly, one is able to better safeguard themselves from diseases such as heart attacks, obesity and high blood pressure. Furthermore, educated individuals who are aware about HIV should also restraint from conducting activities that expose them to the risks of contracting the disease.
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Discussion Questions:
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It would have been good if we could have dwelt into the issue of the new medical practices versus ethics. Medical practices such as the stem cells research, which can be seen as a solution for many problems, is also violently objected to by many religious bodies who say that this practice is unethical. How do we find the balance between these 2 points of views?
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Ratings:
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I would give this lesson a 8/10. Personally, the opening video of the lesson regarding the future of bioscience opened my eyes to see the limitless opportunities that technology can bring. Though it seems like a optimistic view of the future, at the rate technology is advancing in our age, it could possibly be achievable.
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