Read the Conversation
EF: What key priorities are on the agenda for the Barcelona Health Hub, and what can we anticipate from its initiatives in 2024?
CP: Our fundamental goal, consistent since day one, is to bring innovation to patients. The journey involves supporting startups, a crucial component of the recipe. We act as connectors and facilitators in the hub, linking startups with investors, corporations, and healthcare institutions to bring their innovations to market, ultimately impacting patients.
Our nonprofit association reinvests all income to amplify our mission. Beyond assisting startups, we aim to establish Barcelona as a hub for digital health innovation. Barcelona's renowned clinical background, robust startup ecosystem, and healthcare reputation contribute to this vision. While clinical trials are crucial, we face extraordinary challenges in healthcare.
Despite having more tools than ever to enhance lives, the demand for healthcare surpasses professionals' capacity. This global issue is worse in Spain, which is home to the second most aged population globally. It poses both a threat and an opportunity. The challenge is to utilize technology as a tool to assist healthcare professionals rather than a threat or substitute. Technology can aid in decision-making, allow more efficient patient care, and address the growing demand for healthcare.
While success stories exist in the startup ecosystem, the industry still lags behind the transformative changes that technology can bring. The next few months will likely present significant challenges and opportunities as we navigate this evolving landscape.
EF: How does Barcelona Health Hub plan to address the current sustainability challenges in healthcare, given the increasing demand and the existing gap in supply?
CP: In our presentation, there is a slide where I emphasize three key goals: sustainability, reliability, and inclusivity. While inclusivity may seem less critical in Europe, where healthcare is generally assured, it is essential to consider regions globally where healthcare is lacking. Even in developed countries, instances have arisen where physical access to doctors is becoming limited. For instance, last summer in Madrid, many primary care facilities lacked doctors and relied on nurses due to this shortage.
Being an engineer, I often think about processes, and in discussions with doctors, I have noticed they prioritize patient care over efficiency. While this dedication is commendable, we must strike a balance between serving patients effectively and efficiently. The challenge is not about making healthcare cheaper but ensuring it can cope with the growing demand. The goal is to make the system more efficient to prevent scenarios where patients wait for treatment and potential health issues arise.
EF: How do you evaluate the acceptance of these technologies in Spain, not only among healthcare professionals but also within society?
CP: Spain is leading in the widespread embrace of technology as a general concept. While some individuals may resist due to age or personal preferences, the key lies in delivering good solutions. By "good," I mean solutions that are user-friendly and well-designed. The success of the COVID certification app used extensively by the public health system is a testament to Spain's readiness for mass adoption. Despite potential improvements, the fact that a less-than-perfect app gained such traction shows that, in Spain, there is a strong willingness to adopt technology on a large scale. While acknowledging the remaining 20 percent of challenges, addressing the 80 percent is a significant step forward.
EF: How are you actively facilitating collaboration within the BHH? Specifically, how do individuals capitalize on shared spaces and events to establish meaningful connections?
CP: We are engaged in a variety of activities at the hub, and its success is closely tied to our exceptional location. Situated in a UNESCO heritage site, a former hospital with a century of history, our modernist venue is truly marvelous. This unique setting is not just aesthetically pleasing; it plays a crucial role in shaping the future of healthcare. Surrounded by Barcelona's main hospital, nursing school, and a bio-research center, we are fostering an environment where innovation thrives. Our collaboration with the hospital has yielded significant outcomes. We have established a fast track for validating digital health startups, a critical step for many ventures. Recognizing the challenges startups face in validating their groundbreaking inventions, we have streamlined this process. The hospital collaboration has resulted in the creation of a dedicated team trained to expedite the validation of digital health solutions. This involves understanding unique requirements, information needs, and ethical considerations distinct from typical validations.
Beyond these achievements, the hub serves as a space for meaningful connections. It goes beyond the structured environment, offering a place where CEOs and professionals organically interact. Casual encounters, like crossing paths on the way to grab a coffee, foster relationships and collaborations. This unstructured yet invaluable aspect contributes significantly to the overall success and vibrancy of the hub. Corporations often approach us for startup recommendations in specific fields or solutions, and we facilitate these connections. We host various gatherings, both formal and informal, with two major events standing out. One significant event involves bringing 43 companies to a mobile exhibition in four years, featuring extensive panels and activities. Additionally, we are actively engaging with innovation managers from over 30 hospitals in Catalonia, highlighting our digital health space. This commitment has played a pivotal role in establishing a dedicated space for digital health.
Looking ahead, our major upcoming event is the Health Revolution Congress in May. This congress, evolving from our community-centric health hub summit, is now open to all healthcare institutions. The primary goal is to bridge the gap between the startup ecosystem and healthcare professionals, including physicians and nurses. Convincing these professionals of the value of digital solutions is a unique challenge, and we are actively involving powerhouse hospitals to make it happen. In short, events play a crucial role in our equation, bringing together diverse stakeholders for meaningful collaboration and progress.
EF: As technology advances, what specific accomplishments are you most proud of? And how have things evolved since you assumed the role?
CP: The major challenge we faced was establishing the hub. Initially, convincing some powerful entities to allow us to utilize a pavilion in Barcelona was a considerable hurdle. The beginning phase was the toughest, but once it started, the journey was remarkably positive. Despite the initial challenges, the hub has consistently exceeded our expectations, and each step has been a success.
This journey has been both exciting and demanding. The strength of the Barcelona Health Hub lies in its exceptional team led by Luis Badrinas, who has done an outstanding job bringing everything together. The key to our success is treating the hub like a startup, ensuring practical and swift decision-making. We have embraced challenges and made ambitious ideas come to life, and the good news is they have all turned out well. Moving forward, we plan to maintain this dynamic and innovative approach.
