NEWS
BAYER CONSUMER HEALTH UK LAUNCHES ACCESSIBLE QR CODE IN INTIMATE HEALTHCARE
Bayer Consumer Health UK , in partnership with Zappar , has introduced a new Accessible QR code ( AQR ) on its Canescool Soothing Gel Cream product packaging to help those who are blind or partially sighted .
Canescool is the world ’ s first women ’ s intimate health brand to adopt AQR codes on its product packaging and gives the over 200,000 women who are registered as blind or partially sighted in the UK improved access to information on its product .
These innovative QR codes , created by Zappar working closely with Bayer and in collaboration with the Royal National Institute of Blind People ( RNIB ), can be detected by popular accessibility apps such as the Envision app , Microsoft SeeingAI ( as of mid-October ) and Zapvision ’ s reference app .
Structured product information will be announced through text-to-speech for users who are blind or partially sighted . Users will also be directed to a dedicated landing page on the Canescool website with expanded product information and a myth-busting knowledge quiz .
Marc Powell , Accessibility Innovation Lead at the RNIB , said : “ Independence and choice is something we should all have , especially when it comes to looking after ourselves . More than two million people in the UK are living with sight loss and by 2050 it will double to over four million people . We ’ re delighted that Bayer and Zappar are collaborating and are now on a journey to ensure that packaging information is available to blind and partially sighted consumers through the use of the Zap Vision technology and encourage other big brands to make that leap too .”
REPORT FINDS THAT TWO-THIRDS OF SURVEYED HEALTHCARE ORGANISATIONS EXPERIENCED DISRUPTION TO PATIENT CARE DUE TO CYBERATTACKS
Proofpoint , a leading cybersecurity and compliance company , and Ponemon Institute , a top IT security research organisation , released the results of their second annual survey on the effect of cybersecurity in healthcare . The report , CyberInsecurity in Healthcare : The Cost and Impact on Patient Safety and Care 2023 , found that 88 % of the surveyed organisations experienced an average of 40 attacks in the past 12 months . The average total cost of a cyberattack experienced by healthcare organisations was US $ 4.99 million , a 13 % increase from the previous year . Among the organisations that suffered the four most common types of attacks – cloud compromise , ransomware , supply chain and business email compromise ( BEC ) – an average of 66 % reported disruption to patient care . Specifically , 57 % reported poor patient outcomes due to delays in procedures and tests , 50 % saw an increase in medical procedure complications , and 23 % experienced increased patient mortality rates . These numbers reflect last year ’ s findings , indicating that healthcare organisations have made little progress in mitigating the risks of cyberattacks on patient safety and well-being .
“ While the healthcare sector remains highly vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks , I ’ m encouraged that industry executives understand how a cyber-event can adversely impact patient care . I ’ m also more optimistic that significant progress can be made to protect patients from the physical harm that such attacks may cause ,” said Ryan Witt , Chair , Healthcare Customer Advisory Board at Proofpoint .
“ Our survey shows that healthcare organisations are already aware of the cyber-risks they face . Now they must work together with their industry peers and embrace governmental support to build a stronger cybersecurity posture – and consequently , deliver the best patient care possible .”
10 www . intelligenthealth . tech