The metaverse is rushing into healthcare, purporting to make groundbreaking impacts in terms of revolutionizing patient care. Come fly with us in VR therapy! Picture this, remote robotic surgery, guided remotely from the other side of the world and immersive, personalized training specifically catered to medical professionals. The hype is real, with conservative projections estimating a USD 175.46 billion market by 2034. A chilling question lingers: who gets to benefit? Are we unintentionally building a future where only the privileged few can afford to access this cutting-edge healthcare? This move would substantially deepen the already-bad digital divide.

Digital Redlining In The Metaverse?

Think about it. To play in this costly, futuristic healthcare system, you require a lot more than a doctor. You need reliable, high-speed internet. Well, for one, you need a VR headset which, let’s face it, is not the most affordable option available. Not only do you need the technical literacy to navigate virtual environments. You need a lot of disposable income to pay for those virtual consultations and treatments.

Now, who doesn't have those things? Low-income communities. Rural areas with spotty internet. The seniors, who will face challenges with new technologies. These are the very people who have tended to experience the worst health disparities in the first place. Are we building a system that only deepens these inequalities, in effect redlining healthcare into the digital divide? It would be the same as if you built that state-of-the-art hospital but only let patients with one particular brand of smartphone through the front door.

It’s more than a question of access to cool, new tech. After all, this isn’t just a matter of convenience. This is about access to potentially life-changing treatments. Now picture a rural cancer patient not being able to use VR-based pain management because she can’t afford a headset. Or a diabetic person not receiving customized, metaverse-powered training simply because their broadband is not fast enough. The consequences are far-reaching and potentially devastating.

Decentralized Finance To The Rescue?

This is where my knowledge and experience in DeFi & NFT architectures provides an opportunity. Microsoft and NVIDIA’s centralized metaverse solutions are seriously awe-inspiring. At the same time they can inadvertently reinstate old power structures and inequalities. What if we could apply all the principles learned while developing DeFi to create a more equitable metaverse healthcare system?

Imagine an alternative blockchain-based funding model that lets consortiums of communities combine resources to buy and maintain metaverse healthcare infrastructure. Imagine something like a decentralized version of a “health DAO” that owns VR gear and offers training to its member-owners. For example, NFTs might allow for fractionalized ownership of virtual medical assets. This would empower people to financially participate in metaverse healthcare and reap the rewards of its inevitable advancement.

  • Community-owned VR clinics: Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) could purchase equipment and offer subsidized access.
  • NFT-backed healthcare access: NFTs could represent membership or access passes to specific metaverse healthcare services.
  • Blockchain-based funding: Transparent and auditable funding models to ensure resources are allocated fairly.

These are just a few examples, and the opportunities abound. Get creative, look to use different mediums, and make it fun! Harness the potential of decentralized technologies to create a healthcare metaverse that serves people in more inclusive, accessible ways.

Demand Equitable Access Now!

The metaverse is not some far-off fantasy. It's being built right now. And the decisions we make today will determine whether it becomes a tool for empowerment or a weapon of inequality. We can no longer afford to sit back and watch the digital divide grow even larger. We need to demand action now.

This isn’t solely the fault of tech companies. It’s up to policymakers, healthcare providers, and all of us as individuals to make that change. We need to advocate for policies that ensure equitable access to metaverse healthcare, including:

  • Subsidized internet access: Expanding broadband access to underserved communities.
  • Financial assistance programs: Providing funding for VR equipment and metaverse healthcare services.
  • Digital literacy training: Educating individuals on how to navigate and utilize metaverse technologies.

Keep in mind, the metaverse is a mirror up to our society. If we create a metaverse that leaves the most marginalized out, then we’re just replicating the real world’s bullshit. Let’s commit to greater equity and inclusion as guiding principles. Together, we have the opportunity to shape a healthcare metaverse that works for all.

Don’t let the future of healthcare get decided by algorithms and profit margins. Let’s work together to create a future where technology empowers everyone, no matter their socioeconomic status or where they live. The time to act is now. Advocate for equal access to the healthcare metaverse and let’s create a healthier, more equitable future together. The future of our healthcare—and quite frankly the future of our society—depends on it.