Healthcare Technology Featured Article

July 08, 2014

Growth of Telemedicine in Europe


Telemedicine is the use of technologies to provide healthcare access to people living in any region. It is a tool used by healthcare providers to diagnose or treat patients remotely. Advancements in technology have made it easier for both doctors and patients to come together remotely, thereby bridging physical and geographical barriers.

One of the regions that has benefited the most from telemedicine is Europe. With an aging population that is putting enormous strain on the healthcare system, and the non-availability of qualified healthcare providers in all regions, telemedicine has become a preferred choice. Besides these two major factors, others aspects that are driving the demand for video telemedicine are technological advancements, rising costs of healthcare, government involvement, easy availability of smartphones and tablets, and higher availability of cloud-based telemedicine solutions.

Due to these factors, the video telemedicine market in Europe alone is estimated to reach $414.4 million by 2020 while the global market is expected to reach $2.44 billion by 2018. To tap into this huge market potential, there is a concerted effort from private companies, healthcare providers, and the government. Private companies are investing millions of dollars into research to come up with the latest tools that would make it easy to diagnose different conditions remotely, and the government is supporting this research with funding and infrastructure. Healthcare providers, on the other hand, are tuning into the idea of using these advanced tools to diagnose and treat patients accurately, and are working to improve the success rates of such treatments.

Despite these advancements, there are still many barriers that undermine the success of telemedicine. Some examples of such barriers are the outdated reimbursement policies of insurance companies, ambiguity surrounding the schedule and pay scales of healthcare providers, and above everything, the mindset of people.

The next few years is likely to be crucial for this industry as it tries to overcome these barriers, and increases its penetration rates. 




Edited by Maurice Nagle
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