Darius McDermott: Old demographics, new innovations — so why isn't healthcare booming?

The long-term arguments for investing in healthcare are clear: wealthy Western nations are getting older and, as they do, their healthcare needs are soaring. At the same time, newly wealthy emerging markets are demanding better standards of healthcare. This sits alongside some astonishing breakthroughs in areas such as oncology and obesity. The sector should be flying — but it isn't. The statistics are well understood: the United Nations says: "By the mid-2030s, there will be 265 million individuals aged 80 and older, outnumbering infants. Even rapidly growing nations will experience...