Removing obstacles to smart health devices development

December 01, 2019

There are some smart health development obstacles.

. Internet access:

Seniors are a population particularly prone to long-term conditions. The number of patients with long-term conditions is increasing exponentially with age. 40% of people over 70 have long-term conditions, compared with less than 10% in those under 40 years of age. Due to the increase in life expectancy, polypathological subjects are living longer and longer with their chronic diseases. These individuals are therefore a population of choice for the use of smart health device, which would facilitate the monitoring of their affections.

. The smartphone: a central role

Connected blood pressure monitor, connected oximeter, connected pillbox etc. The smartphone has become almost indispensable for anyone wishing to acquire a smart health device. This real handheld computer allows you to analyze and control the various devices via its touch screen. Without it, it is difficult to fully benefit from all the features unique to each smart health device.

  . Confidentiality of the data

Health data, defined as sensitive, is highly coveted. Two major types of threats weigh on them.

The slightest computer connection leaves traces that go far beyond the desired search. A fortiori with regard to smart health device: geographical position, number of kilometers traveled, heart rate, etc …

All data collected by the smart health devices are likely to transit and be stored on the servers of the giants of the web, the GAFA (Google®, Apple®, Facebook®, Amazon®). From the exploitation of this Big Data can come a whole series of statistical analyzes. It then becomes possible to define the personality profile of each individual for advertising purposes, to draw lessons on his state of health and to deduce the underlying pathologies.

The GAFA merger of the health insurance sector could then threaten our social model with the introduction of a bonus / malus system based on our behavioral habits. These drifts have already begun to emerge. In 2014, the AXA group offered 50 euros worth of vouchers for its customers realizing more than 7000 steps per day. Far from being anecdotal, this type of practice is likely to become widespread in the years to come.

Cybercrime

The second threat comes from cybercrime. A medical record can be resold on the black market (DarkWeb) between 50 and 100 dollars.There are many examples in recent years of piracy in the medical field:– On March 17, 2015 in France, Labio lab saw its servers hack. The Rex-Mundi hacker group claiming € 20,000 against non-disclosure of medical information. – On February 5, 2016, the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles was paralyzed for ten days before paying the $ 17,000 claimed.– On May 12, 2017, a major cyber attack paralyzed the UK health system. One-third of hospitals and many medical practices were denied access to their computers. The ransomware (computer virus) claimed 300 dollars to regain access rights to its computer equipment. The hackers would have managed to reap £ 100,000.– Even more frightening but which fortunately remains experimental, researchers have managed to hack an insulin pump at a distance of 45m (which can then change the doses to inject) or a cardiac defibrillator (completely emptying the battery and delivering shock inappropriate).

Thus inadequately protected smart health devices can be a real gateway to the world of health with potentially disastrous consequences.