Population aging and medical robotics

Abstract

Subject. The population aging is becoming one of the most significant social challenges of the 21st century. It increases the demand for medicines, diagnostic equipment, and medical staff. An alternative to the growth of medical personnel is the robotization of medical services. However, the robotics is economically justified when the costs of medical robots are lower than the construction of additional medical facilities and training of additional healthcare professionals. Objectives. I focus on analyzing the medical robots connected with population aging, the link with the global robotics process, and the impact on the medical labor market. Methods. The study employs general scientific methods to analyze open data sources. Results. The paper demonstrates the economic feasibility and efficiency of using robots in general and orthopedic surgery, rehabilitation and maintenance of elderly patients. Conclusions. The medical robotics industry appeared later than the industrial and military segments. However, in recent years, it has been developing at a high rate. Russia lags behind in this area, including in servicing the country's elderly population. To solve this problem, fundamental reforms are required, starting with the system of engineering robotic education, accelerating the development of microelectronics and sensor instrumentation, and reforming the labor market.