Bioprinting holds the potential to close the healthcare access gap by providing personalized, on-demand medical solutions and reducing reliance on donor organs. Streamlined regulatory processes, lower production costs, and enhanced training for medical professionals are key steps for making bioprinting a standard practice within the global healthcare system.
Healthcare systems around the globe are facing increasing gaps in healthcare access. In the US, studies show that health inequity has grown over the last fifteen years, particularly among underserved populations and people in low-income brackets. In Europe, 20% of respondents to a 2022 survey reported having unmet healthcare needs. This situation is expected to worsen, with an anticipated shortfall of nearly 1.8 million healthcare workers in Europe by 2030, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions.
One emerging technology that has the potential to help narrow the global healthcare gap is bioprinting. This advanced 3D printing technique creates tissue and organ structures layer-by-layer using a patient’s own cells. This technology offers personalized and on-demand medical solutions that make advanced treatments more accessible and affordable.
Reducing organ shortages and long-term costs
Bioprinting initiatives have the potential to address several costly healthcare challenges. Amidst the global shortage of organs for transplantation, patients needing organ transplants face long waiting lists and risks of complications, including organ rejection. “By using a patient’s own cells to create tissues and organs, bioprinting can help lower the risk of rejection and reduce reliance on donor organs,” says Vidmantas Šakalys, CEO of Vital 3D, a biotech firm that specializes in 3D bioprinting solutions.
By providing tissues that are tailored to individual patients, the need for extended hospital stays and multiple surgeries may decrease. “Bioprinted tissues can help reduce the overall costs associated with transplants and long-term medical care. This makes advanced medical treatments more accessible to low-income populations and reduces the financial burden on healthcare systems,” Šakalys explains.
Furthermore, bioprinted tissues and organs can be produced locally, which is beneficial for patients in remote or underserved areas and decreases the strain on urban healthcare centers. “Skin grafts for burn victims can be produced at bioprinting facilities established in remote areas,” says Šakalys, “reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for specialized care and decreasing the strain on urban healthcare centers.”
Bioprinting for drug development and medical training
Bioprinting has applications beyond improving organ and tissue transplantation. For instance, bioprinted tissues are useful in drug testing, accelerating the development of new treatments and reducing the reliance on animal testing. This can lead to quicker and more cost-effective development of drugs, making them more widely available.
Bioprinted models can also serve as realistic training tools, improving the efficiency of medical education. “Utilizing bioprinted models in training offers a realistic experience for medical trainees that is crucial for building proficiency without ethical concerns associated with cadavers and live patients,” Šakalys notes. “This method improves training efficiency and reduces the time required to become proficient in complex procedures.”
Paving the way for widespread adoption
For bioprinting to become a standard practice within the European healthcare system, certain challenges will need to be addressed. The current high costs and complexity of bioprinting technology are significant barriers. “To make bioprinting affordable, technological advancements are essential,” Šakalys asserts. “Continued research and development will significantly lower production costs.”
Regulatory support and economic incentives are also critical to making bioprinting more accessible. Streamlined approval processes and clear regulatory guidelines will help reduce the time and costs of bringing bioprinted products to market. Additionally, comprehensive training programs for healthcare professionals will enable them to harness the potential of bioprinting effectively.
Collaboration among policymakers, insurance companies, and healthcare providers is necessary to facilitate the integration of bioprinting into healthcare systems. With sustained efforts, bioprinting could become an affordable and integral part of the European healthcare system within the next two decades.
