International public health organizations need to guide innovation in public health

Abstract

" Dear Editor, Over the centuries, innovations occurring outside the context of medical science (e.g., new technology and techniques) have had a great effect on human health. For example, technological improvements in water and sanitation helped eliminate dysentery as much, if not more than, medical interventions. A similar trend remains today, as technological advancements in computer science, genetics, nanotechnology, robotics, and other applied sciences are expected to lead to profound changes in the nature and delivery of health care. While some critics claim innovation in medical and other technology has promised more than what it has delivered thus far, fast-growing markets for telehealth, radiology/imaging, robotics, and personalized medicine indicate the potential for substantial changes in the near future, as described below..."