The Biggest Failure in Medical Research: Discoveries That Are Unaffordable

CNBC AI News – July 23 – BGI Genomics CEO Yin Ye is making waves after a recent interview on Phoenix TV’s “Cover Story,” where he delved into the future of human longevity.

Yin’s bold predictions, including the assertion that “humans will live to 150 years” and that “Gen Z has a lifespan of 100 years, with no upper limit,” have sparked widespread discussion and debate across social media platforms and within the scientific community.

Adding fuel to the fire, media outlets have unearthed an older video clip of Yin expressing concerns about the accessibility of medical advancements, stating, “The biggest failure of medical research is when we develop something, but people can’t afford it.”

In the resurfaced video, Yin articulated his frustration: the real tragedy in medical research isn’t a lack of breakthroughs, but the prohibitive cost that prevents widespread adoption.

He further pondered, “How can we dramatically reduce these costs, perhaps to under $100,000?” posing a critical question about the democratization of healthcare technologies.

Yin emphasized that the ultimate goal of medical research should be driving down costs to the bare minimum. The priority, he argued, shouldn’t be rapid profit generation, but ensuring that innovative technologies are accessible and affordable for everyone, even in the most remote and underserved regions.

He passionately expressed his hope for a future where precision medicine is truly available for all.

Notably, Yin also addressed the issue of equitable access to medical technology during this year’s Summer Davos forum.

Yin acknowledged the reality that cutting-edge (medical) technologies are initially used by affluent individuals, but he believes there’s an eventual shift towards equality and universal access.

He explained this phenomenon as an “overflow effect,” a concept in economics. His argument posits that preventing the wealthy from adopting new technologies initially would ultimately delay accessibility for the less privileged.

He concluded by stating that all technologies progress towards equitable distribution, emphasizing the need for society to prepare for an era of extended lifespans.