Now Go Build with Werner Vogels – S1E6 Rio de Janeiro | Amazon Web Services

Summary

In 'Now Go Build', Werner Vogels explores Brazil's healthcare challenges, where half the population is medically homeless. He meets Marcelo Gomes, who uses modeling to predict disease spread, and Onicio Neto, who leverages crowdsourced data for early disease detection. Dr. Consulta's Thomaz Srougi discusses their tech-driven approach to affordable, preventative healthcare. The episode highlights how technology and data are revolutionizing healthcare, making it more accessible and proactive for millions.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The world is experiencing rapid changes, and technology is playing a crucial role in shaping our future, especially in healthcare.
• 🏥 Half of the world's population lacks access to basic healthcare services, and even where healthcare is available, it doesn't necessarily equate to better health outcomes.
• 🇧🇷 Brazil's government provides free public healthcare, but due to poverty and inefficiencies, the system struggles to meet the demand, leaving 150 million citizens without access to healthcare professionals.
• 🏞 Rio de Janeiro, with its diverse income levels and complex geography, is a microcosm of the broader challenges Brazil faces in public health.
• 🔬 Marcelo Gomes, a public health researcher, uses modeling to track epidemics globally, emphasizing the importance of technology in identifying outbreaks and estimating current situations.
• 📊 'Nowcasting' is a technique used to estimate the current state of an epidemic based on incomplete data, which can significantly improve with platforms for self-reporting and social media information.
• 📲 Epitrack, a digital disease detection platform, uses crowdsourcing to collect real-time symptom data, helping to identify potential outbreaks and inform public health interventions.
• 📈 Dr. Consulta is a network of clinics that uses technology to provide affordable and efficient healthcare to low-income families, moving from a reactive to a proactive healthcare model.
• 💰 Dr. Consulta's model is designed to be cost-effective, with prices significantly lower than traditional healthcare, and emphasizes transparency to empower patients with informed decisions.
• 📈 The use of data in healthcare is pivotal for predicting future health risks and shifting from a reactive to a preventative model, which can lead to better health outcomes and cost savings.
• 🌐 The script highlights the broader challenges in global health, including infectious diseases, noncommunicable diseases, environmental factors, and mental health, and the potential for technology to address these issues.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video?

The video focuses on how technology and innovative approaches are being used to tackle healthcare challenges in Brazil.

Who is Werner Vogels and what role does he play in the video?

Werner Vogels is the host of the video series 'Now Go Build,' where he travels the globe to talk to start-up founders using technologies to make the world more interesting, accessible, and livable.

What is the current state of healthcare in Brazil as described in the video?

Brazil's government offers free public healthcare, but pervasive poverty and bureaucratic inefficiencies mean that the healthcare system cannot keep up with demand. Out of 200 million citizens, 150 million are considered medically homeless, lacking access to healthcare professionals.

Who is Marcelo Gomes and what does he do?

Marcelo Gomes is a public health researcher with Fiocruz, part of Brazil's Ministry of Health. He works on modeling epidemic spreading, primarily focusing on influenza, Dengue, and Zika.

What is 'Nowcasting' and how is it used in public health?

'Nowcasting' is a technique used to estimate the current situation based on incomplete information. It helps in determining if small fluctuations in case numbers signify an outbreak.

Who is Onicio Neto and what is Epitrack?

Onicio Neto is a social entrepreneur and biomedical scientist with a doctorate in public health. Epitrack is his organization that focuses on digital disease detection through crowdsourcing health data.

How does Epitrack collect health data?

Epitrack deploys mobile apps where people can self-report symptoms. This data is collected in real time to detect potential outbreaks and provide information to decision-makers.

What is dr.consulta and what are its goals?

dr.consulta is a network of clinics in Brazil that aims to provide affordable healthcare. It uses technology to drive down costs and offer preventative care, especially to low-income families.

How does dr.consulta use technology to improve healthcare delivery?

dr.consulta uses technology for efficiency, such as booking appointments through an app, storing medical history digitally, and predicting future health issues to provide proactive care.

What are some of the global health challenges mentioned by Onicio Neto?

The four big global health challenges mentioned are infectious diseases, noncommunicable diseases, environmental changes, and mental health issues.

What impact has Epitrack had on public health?

Epitrack has had a significant impact by allowing faster detection of potential epidemics, which helps in making timely interventions and preventing widespread outbreaks.

How does dr.consulta ensure transparency in healthcare costs?

dr.consulta practices price transparency by allowing patients to see the costs of services ahead of time, helping them make better-informed decisions.

What does Marcelo Gomes mention about the Zika outbreak during the Olympic Games?

Marcelo Gomes explains that despite fears of a pandemic during the Olympic Games, the Zika virus did not spread significantly due to seasonal factors affecting the mosquito population.

How does dr.consulta's approach to healthcare differ from traditional models?

dr.consulta focuses on a proactive, preventative care model rather than a reactive one. They use data to predict and prevent health issues, aiming to keep people away from hospitals.

What are the benefits of the patient-centric model mentioned in the video?

The patient-centric model focuses on long-term health and well-being, prioritizing patients' needs over short-term profits, leading to improved quality of life for millions.