DH Intelligence publishes digital therapeutics market analysis

Digital Health Intelligence has published its latest market analysis report, where Lloyd Price examines the digital therapeutics market.

The report confirms that the government is ramping up support for digital therapeutics, with the chancellor including £225 million of ringfenced funding within the Budget earlier this year for digital mental health and musculoskeletal (MSK) initiatives.

There are various examples of NHS trusts implementing successful digital therapeutics solutions, with the report highlighting three partnerships: Imperial College NHS Trust and Current Health, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust and IESO, and Coventry and Warwickshire and Healios.

Leading suppliers

Digital therapeutics solutions have been increasingly prominent in both primary care and secondary care organisations in the last two to three years, the report highlights, with some of the leading suppliers such as:

• Huma – a global digital health technology company that uses AI to advance digital-first care delivery and research to help people live longer, fuller lives.
• getUbetter – provides 24/7 self-management support, so people trust their recovery and are only re-directed to healthcare services when necessary.
• Big Health – mission is to help millions back to good mental health by providing safe and effective non-drug alternatives for the most common mental health conditions.

Main patient benefits

The two key benefits of digital therapeutics for patients, as set out in the report, are patient engagement, as patients can be empowered to take an active role in their healthcare journey, and patient outcomes, as timely access to care, personalised support and self-management tools can lead to results such as reduced symptom severity and improved quality of life.

The next 12 months

Lloyd Price states in the report that the use of digital therapeutics will continue to increase in the next 12 months as suppliers share more evidence of their impact on patients and providers. “More adoption and awareness will build more evidence, boosting clinicians and patients’ confidence in the technology, and fuelling a positive cycle,” he predicts.

Price also believes that the three specialities most likely to experience and benefit from an increasing use of digital therapeutics are: mental health (specifically cognitive behavioural therapy), MSK (pain management), and chronic disease management (diabetes, heart, and asthma management).

Digital Health Intelligence’s previous market analysis, also written by Lloyd Price, examined the population health management market.

This latest digital therapeutics market analysis report can be downloaded here.