Healthcare Technology Featured Article

April 28, 2020

Why Product Development Is Important In The Health Sector


Because health workers are directly responsible for human lives, the healthcare sector is particularly prone to scrutiny and criticism, more so than many other industries.

While product development companies dealing with non-fatal illnesses are not as closely scrutinized, those that deal with adverse and deadly diseases such as cancer and tuberculosis have to be extra careful. For instance, product development companies that offer products that fail have to deal with a strong market backlash.

As we know, conceptual failures, sloppy procedures, or inaccurate statements can demolish a company’s credibility. Thus, product development companies in the healthcare sector are more than careful about meeting legal criteria, following business standards, and discussing consumer expectations in the healthcare space.

In this context, this article summarizes why product development is vital in the health sector.

Establishing Standard Regulatory Frameworks

Each nation has its own healthcare policies and these can cause friction. For example, despite being backed up by accurate reports from pharmaceutical contract testing labs, certain medicines are prohibited for sale in more economically advanced countries but are marketed in developing nations.

To address this, product development companies and regulatory bodies around the world are working to create a standardized regulatory framework. One ultimate goal is to discourage the proliferation of counterfeit pharmaceutical goods. After all, everyone should be able to access high-quality medication whether they are in impoverished nations or in highly developed countries.

Empowering Patients To Promote Change

In this era of active consumerism, patients would rather be empowered as consumers particularly in healthcare contexts. As healthcare agencies prioritize patient needs and market preferences, more healthcare resources and services are being subjected to continuous improvement and innovation. This, in turn, affects consumer choices. Companies are able to identify which health facilities, goods, or services enjoy better market response as patients choose one over another.

As such market trends become more evident, the marketing strategies used in the healthcare sectors are increasingly informed and influenced by evidence-based practice. For instance, it is now understood that healthcare products should be produced to allow better interactions between patients and healthcare professionals, to improve the understanding of patient information and behavior, and to focus on proactive patient responses while encouraging their wellbeing.

Taken altogether, these developments can only result in more motivated patients as they become more informed and responsible for their wellbeing. Healthcare consumers become highly involved partners in their health regimens, are better provided with customized programs, and are equipped with relevant data and best resources as needed.

Consolidating The Healthcare Sector

Healthcare is a thriving industry that includes sectors such as product development, product creation, manufacturing of pharmaceutical goods, and patient care, among others. Each of these areas has its own sub-industries, each with its own set of regulations and protocols that are strictly monitored for compliance.

Not surprisingly, industry experts have considered the possibility that the rules applicable to one sector can cause malpractice in another. At the same time, coupled with the practical considerations of possible public scrutiny and sanctions, there are additional concerns about the increasing lack of space for individual creativity in these areas.

The priority, however, is to streamline standards and procedures among product development companies and healthcare providers. Towards this end, both parties are restructuring the healthcare industry to consolidate the best interests of end-consumers.

Reducing Costs

Being in a profit-oriented business context, manufacturers of healthcare products are mindful of quality and cost-effectiveness. As a result, after specifications are verified in the course of undergoing the different processes of product development, healthcare businesses must look at cost reduction.

While product development is and will continue to be ongoing processes, there are limitations that prevent substantial cost-cutting. For instance, in the initial stages of product development, the only financial factors included in the evaluation phase are product cost, which includes production and instrumentation expenses.

These, however, cannot present a full image of the product's actual loss in costs until it is commercialized. To produce a technologically viable product that is profitable, product development companies must consider and declare all expenses. This includes everything that goes into product creation including research, testing, multiple concept prototypes, and product feasibility assessments. Finally, to reduce costs, these companies will adjust their financials to maximize both engineering and financial aspects.

Closing Thoughts

With the pressures created by public accountability; the expenses for product testing, development and manufacturing; and rising healthcare costs, the criteria for healthcare product development to evolve, to produce innovative technologies, and to improve marketing elements may eventually turn out to be highly complex and perhaps even overwhelming.

However, the complex changes that are affecting the healthcare industry are some of the main reasons why product development is critical to the healthcare industry. The manufacturers of healthcare products are aware that they must maximize breakthroughs in product development and that, to do so, they must use all resources and technologies available to them.

Leslie Snyder

Leslie Snyder is a business consultant who works with different facets of the business and specializes in product development services. Leslie has helped countless entrepreneurs create and improve their product offerings over the years.

Leslie also shares his knowledge of product development by contributing articles to different business-related websites.



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