As 2024 draws to a close, Designit’s Myles Washington, Director of Experience Design and Strategy and Dr Pardis Shafafi, anthropologist and Global Responsible Business Lead, are looking to what 2025 could mean for the world of healthcare - where they see the rise of AI diagnostics, autonomous telehealth solutions and a more proactive approach to healthcare challenges:

Dr Pardis Shafafi, Global Responsible Business Lead

Healthcare research for 51% of the populace
“Investments will, finally, be allocated towards women’s health as VCs and business research continue to demonstrate the huge benefits for society as a whole. The specific commercial incentives for those who invest in women’s healthcare will become clearer.”

Myles Washington, Director of Experience Design and Strategy

AI to become the backbone of diagnostics

“In the near future, artificial intelligence will become the backbone of diagnostics and decision-making in healthcare. EHR systems will transform, integrating advanced Clinical Decision Support (CDS) tools to deliver real-time, actionable insights. These systems will decode complex patient data, presenting it in intuitive formats that fit seamlessly into clinical workflows. Healthcare providers will benefit from unprecedented clarity and precision, enabling faster, smarter decisions that save lives.”

Autonomous Telehealth & Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) comes to the fore

“In 2025, we will see telehealth and RPM become truly autonomous, breaking through current barriers of accessibility and infrastructure. With the rapid evolution of technologies like 6G, IoT, and connected systems, remote patient monitoring will no longer just track health—it will predict and proactively manage it. These advancements will enable healthcare providers to intervene in real-time, fundamentally transforming the patient experience from reactive to proactive and eventually predictive and future hopes of prescriptive proactive care.”

The rise of Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) in healthcare

“2025 will mark a major shift in how healthcare data is managed and utilised. Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) will move critical computing tasks from centralised clouds to the edge of networks, closer to patients and healthcare providers. This leap will enable faster, more reliable processing of data at the point of care, improving response times for diagnostics, telehealth, and even robotic surgeries. By cutting reliance on distant data centres, MEC will empower a new era of instant, patient-focused decision-making.”

Predictive healthcare-based outcomes shifting towards a more proactive approach to healthcare

“The healthcare industry will embrace prediction over reaction in 2025, driven by connected data systems, generative AI, and PII insights. Wearable technology will evolve from tracking metrics to providing intelligent predictions, alerting both patients and providers to risks before they arise. Meanwhile, autonomous drones and health bots will deliver medication or intervene in emergencies with real-time precision. This shift will redefine healthcare as a proactive service, tailored to individual needs and powered by cutting-edge technology.”

Rise of the Robot Surgeon

“2025 will redefine how pharmacies operate, with autonomous systems managing inventory, supply chains, and even dispensing medication. As real-time data analysis powered by 5G becomes the norm, pharmacies will evolve into hyper-efficient hubs that reduce waste, optimise costs, and improve access to life-saving treatments. This revolution will shift focus from logistical challenges to delivering value for both patients and providers.”