Giving Compass' Take:

• Anna Knack explains how AR and VR technologies can potentially bring down medical costs and improve access, as well as improve the quality of medical care patients receive. 

• How can funders ensure that the benefits of new technologies are equitably distributed? 

• Learn how VR is preparing inmates for life outside. 

Immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) allow users to behave how they would in the real world.  Both technologies have the potential to create new applications that support the training of medical professionals and the delivery of health services and improve the health outcomes of NHS users. However, they also risk displacing workers in the health sector, including public servants in the NHS.

The UK digital health system is already home to pioneering innovations in the AR and VR space. The most well-known example is the first operation to remove cancerous tissue using a VR camera, which was performed in the UK at the Royal London hospital.

AR and VR technologies could also help the NHS and other health service providers make service delivery more cost-effective, particularly when training future medical professionals.  In addition to helping medical professionals, there is growing evidence that suggests that these technologies empower users to monitor their health and incentivize leading a healthy lifestyle.

While cost savings could incentivize investment, using these technologies to replace human resources could have an impact on the job market across industries, including the health sector. For instance, virtual instead of 'real' doctors could become more commonplace. While the displacement of some jobs is likely, AR and VR could also create new jobs.

There is an ongoing need to understand the transformations in the health sector and how the opportunities and risks of advancements in digital technology can shape health futures.

Read the full article about AR and VR transforming the health sector by Anna Knack at RAND Corporation.