Synopsis
The healthtech sector saw growth driven by digitalisation, offering new opportunities for mid-career professionals in areas like health informatics and data science. Essential skills covered technical and non-technical domains, with upskilling playing a crucial role. Freelance roles also saw a rise, especially in telehealth and medical writing.
Rapid digitalisation, automation and a booming startup culture are some of the factors responsible for pushing the healthtech sector towards a new era of growth. While this amalgamation of technology and healthcare is increasing demand for skilled fresh talent, the question is does the healthtech sector have plenty of opportunities for mid-career professionals as well?
The healthtech field has seen significant evolution, particularly with the rise of digital health solutions, telemedicine and data analytics, says Aravinda Kumar, Director, Talent Acquisition, Model N. Mid-career professionals are in demand as health informatics specialists, clinical data scientists, healthcare claims associates, AR in medical billing, and for roles in service operations for large life sciences companies, he says.
Sachin Alug, CEO, NLB Services, lists health data analysts, data scientists, healthtech consultants, telemedicine physicians & nurses, digital health project managers, medical device engineers, biomedical technicians, and healthcare cybersecurity analysts as the roles experiencing a surge in demand for experienced mid-career individuals.
Candidates can expect Rs 6-8 lakh per annum in India. However, the numbers might be influenced by factors such as experience, expertise and the company’s scale and market position.
Must-have skills for a seamless transition
For mid-career professionals planning to switch to the healthtech space, Kumar says acquiring a mix of technical and non-technical skills is essential. On the technical side, proficiency in data analysis, electronic health records (EHR) management, and healthcare IT systems along with knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and cybersecurity can be highly beneficial.
Non-technical skills like effective communication, empathy, problem-solving, teamwork and adaptability are just as crucial for success in healthtech roles. Plus, continuous learning and the ability to navigate dynamic challenges are key to delivering exceptional patient care and service, particularly in areas like telemedicine, he explains.
Alug also expresses a similar opinion regarding skill acquisition. While tech skills like cloud computing facilitate easy tracking of patient data & safe storage, health data analysis simplifies the handling of complex data, and artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (AI/ML) skills ensure diagnostic assistance, operational efficiency and more. Medical coding is also necessary for translating clinical information into codes, enabling accurate billing and blockchain.
Coming to the non-tech skills, he says in-depth product knowledge, effective communication, leadership quality, negotiations and problem-solving abilities play an indispensable part in propelling a career.
Relevant upskilling courses to pursue
Upskilling is the primary need for easily transitioning into any field at any stage of one’s career journey. For landing great opportunities in the healthtech space, Kumar says mid-career professionals should consider pursuing courses around health informatics, healthcare administration and medical technology.
In addition, specialised data science, hospital management and biomedical engineering programmes can substantially boost career prospects, he says.
Courses such as data science in health technology assessment and artificial intelligence in healthcare can be particularly beneficial, adds Alug.
Status of mid-career freelance opportunities
As the health-tech sector continues to expand and evolve, there is a notable increase in demand for freelance and contractual roles, particularly for mid-career professionals, says Kumar. He says specific freelance roles registering demand for mid-career professionals include telehealth providers, medical writers, healthcare consultants and physical therapists. Alongside these, there is a high demand for blue-collar gig workers for medicine delivery and home sample collections.
Alug also says that the healthtech industry is growing rapidly, presenting numerous freelancing and contractual opportunities for mid-career roles. Medical billing and coding specialists, product managers for healthcare startups, healthcare data analysts and cybersecurity experts are some such flexible roles mid-career professionals can tap into.
This article was originally published on The Economic Times.
