The provision of healthcare services and information by
telecommunication methods could hold the potential to change the way we receive
medical care.
This is according to a report by
healthcare analysts GlobalData who predicts that the worldwide telehealth and
telemedicine market will experience a boom in growth over the next few years as
technology continues to expand, both in terms of number of applications and
availability.
From a 2011 valuation of
US$13.2bn, the global market for telehealth and telemedicine will jump to
$32.5bn by 2018, climbing at a growth rate of 14%.
According to GlobalData, the key
factors driving the industry include the need to increase the reach of quality
medical care to remote locations, reduce healthcare expenditure and enable the
optimal usage of limited provider resources.
The accelerated growth of robust
telecommunication technologies, the increased adoption of related healthcare IT
solutions and the readiness of companies and governments to invest are also
contributing to the market’s double-digit growth.
Asia-Pacific growth:
Currently the US dominates the
industry, holding a 51% share in 2011, but the Asia-Pacific region is estimated
to exhibit the most impressive growth.
During 2011 Asia-Pacific
contributed $2bn to the global telehealth and telemedicine market and is
expected to almost quadruple by the end of 2018, to just under $8bn.
Such growth in the region is
expected to be driven by improved awareness of the model’s potential for
expanding the penetration of affordable medical care to the wider population,
with governments rapidly adopting and pushing telehealth to cater to the needs
of the rising rural patient populations.
James Henderson
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