Alphabet is spending billions to become a force in health care

So far this year, Google has injected NZ$2.7b into futuristic health ideas. (Image: File)

Sat, 02 Jul 2022

Rich countries pour heart-stopping amounts of money into healthcare. Advanced economies typically spend about 10% of GDP (gross domestic product) on keeping their citizens in good nick, a share that is rising as populations age. America’s labyrinthine health-industrial complex consumes 17% of GDP, equivalent to $3.6 trillion ($5.8t) a year. The American system’s heft and inertia, perpetuated by the drugmakers, pharmacies, insurers, hospitals and others that benefit from it, have long protected it from disruption. Its size...

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