Thought Leadership

Top health industry issues of 2012

In 2012, health industry organizations will connect in new ways with each other and their consumers as they wade through economic, regulatory, and political uncertainty. Some are stepping forward in cooperation; others are rewriting the rules of competition.

Among the key issues, we'll see value move from theory to reality, investments ramp up in informatics, the effects of drug shortages, insurers gear up to compete in a new insurance exchange marketplace, pharma companies slim down and healthcare increasing its social media presence.

PwC’s Health Research Institute commissioned an online survey of 1,000 US adults in fall 2011. Below are some survey results related to consumers deferring care and their use of social media for a healthcare related purpose.

Deferred care
Social media in healthcare

Percent of consumers who have deferred care in the past year because of cost

Chart nav

AGE

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65+

GENDER

Female

Male

INSURANCE

Uninsured

Employer

Individual

Medicaid

Medicare

ALL

Source: PwC HRI Consumer Survey, 2011

Percent of consumers who have used the following social media for healthcare purposes