The health sector has long held fast in times of boom and bust. But will today's healthcare models stand up to tomorrow's world? Rising costs, an Age of Austerity and new waves of health technologies can change the model to one that is radically different from today. Imagine a "virtual" hospital that only processes data and sends patients to the right place to suit their needs, anywhere in the world. "Healthcare futures" - the first Outsights On for 2011 written by Consultant Alasdair Keith looks at how the healthcare model could change in the future.

We asked and you answered! Thank you for taking part in the Top Drivers for 2011 survey in December based on the 21 Drivers for the 21st Century^TM.

The top drivers, as chosen by you, are: War, terrorism and insecurity; Economic and financial stability and Resource availability. Bringing up the rear are: Intellectual property, Space and Identity. The next monthly update is on Consumerism, do feel free to pass on the word.

A project pushing water up to remote highland villages has won the BBC World Challenge Award 2010. The Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc. (AIDFI) won the competition out of a field of 800 entrants for introducing the hydraulic ram pump - an invention from the 1700s - to villages in the Philippines. The pump uses the power of a river's flow to push water uphill without any other energy input, saving back-breaking work carrying water and cash by replacing expensive water pumps. The World Challenge, run by the BBC World News and Newsweek in association with Shell is a competition for innovative grassroots entrepreneurs. Outsights Partner Richard O'Brien chairs the jury.

Are the agencies and organisations of the UN development system still relevant today? What comes after the Millennium Development Goals of 2015? Outsights Partner Richard O'Brien recently worked with The FUNDS Project (The Future of the UN Development System) to develop an agenda to 2025. The event, which took place last week at Wilton Park, aimed to build an effective system for the future.

...they are young, have new ideas and think they know the answers even though they haven't done the time. But they also have less jobs, too much debt and terrible global challenges. Such are the issues surrounding the generation gap - an important factor in the future workplace. Richard O'Brien delivered a speech on the Future of the Workplace recently to Global HR Council members of The Conference Board programme, covering future drivers of change such as health, urbanisation and identity. Outsights regularly delivers hard-hitting insightful and exciting speeches on the future to help organisations to think about tomorrow's world, usually based on the 21 Drivers for the 21st Century^TM, but which can be tailored for different purposes. Do feel free to contact us for further information.

We're always looking for recent graduates from any discipline and a healthy curiosity about the Future to join our team. Interns at Outsights do research and analysis for client projects, take part in our Young Leaders programme, help to organise events and work directly with the senior consulting team. For more information, please see our Internship Opportunities advert.