Fuelled by the constraints of a global pandemic, there is no denying that technology is enabling the transformation of medicine at an unprecedented rate. Amid the glitz of digital healthcare and automation, we need to not lose sight of the power of the human touch.

Human touch is fundamental to people forming personal connections. From a healthcare perspective, touch promotes trust and healing. When a patient enters the room to see a doctor, healing is already taking place as he receives a reassuring response and the touch from a pair of professional healing hands. Indeed, countless research shows the power of touch and empathy in medicine, something that cannot be replaced by cold digital tools. 

In fact, touch has been shown to be essential for healthy child development, and a lack thereof can even cause death. The isolation and lack of touch for the elderly in nursing homes in the COVID-19 pandemic also saw patients decline cognitively more quickly. In 2020, there were 38,000 unexpected Alzheimer's-related deaths in the US as the pandemic upended patients' lives, which is approximately 16% more than expected annually.

How then can we preserve the human touch and connection in healthcare in a new normal that pushes us towards digitalisation? This question demands a focus on the emotional needs of patients, while harnessing technology to improve the healthcare system.