Innovative biomedical information technologies for low-cost healthcare

Meeting the long-term healthcare needs of the growing elderly population and escalating healthcare expenditure in China pose a grim challenge to the current healthcare system and the solvency of state budgets. Therefore, there is a great need of advanced technologies for more effective and low-cost healthcare to alleviate the burden of the current healthcare system. Based on the development of technologies for designing wearable medical devices and biosensors, the new micro-TU-COME techniques (i.e. micro-Terahertz techniques, micro-Ultra sound techniques, micro-Computer tomography, micro-Optical- mechanical-electro system, micro-Magnetic resonance imaging, and micro-Electrophysiological imaging) and general medical imaging facilities, an information system that can deliver multi-level, multi- dimensional healthcare services to urban and rural citizens is proposed to bridge individuals, homes, communities, and hospitals through a four-layer (FHCH) system structure. This four-layer structure should ensure people be monitored by the new system as closely as it can, resulting in the novel transformation of the function of healthcare systems from symptoms treatment to early risk detection and even prevention. It allows people to self-monitor their health conditions at their convenience in an attempt to lighten the workload of doctors and nurses. Moreover, more people can benefit from the new technologies and system with much lower medical insurance fees due to the reduced risk of developing severe diseases through regular, long-term and effective monitoring of citizens' health conditions.