Telehealth: Heralding the Future of Healthcare

Healthcare and General Service
October 1, 2024

Highlights:

Growing Momentum: Telehealth has become a crucial tool for monitoring well-being and diagnosing and treating illnesses.
Technological Advancements: Innovations such as smartphones, 5G networks, and wearables have ushered in the era of digital or virtual healthcare

Telehealth allows patients to consult with doctors via online platforms, eliminating the need for in-person visits. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated the adoption of telehealth services, transforming healthcare delivery and improving access for people in remote locations. The service is rapidly gaining mainstream acceptance, with 77% of physicians expected to prioritise its use in the future.

Factors contributing to the expansion of telehealth:

Technological Advances: Smartphones, 5G networks, and wearables, have made virtual care efficient as well as convenient for patients along with doctors
User-friendly Interface: Provides ease of use for patients
Demand from Underserved Locations: Breaks down geographic barriers for healthcare access in rural areas or isolated regions
Cost Savings: Reduces the need for in-person visits as well as brick-and-mortar infrastructure, thereby lowering health system costs
Flexibility: Allows virtual appointments without work or travel interruptions and easier scaling for service providers

The pandemic sparked the telehealth revolution, but technological advancements are altering the digital healthcare landscape further. Artificial intelligence (AI), remote monitoring devices, and augmented reality (AR) are transforming virtual care to be a full-fledged industry.

Telehealth tools have the potential to offer healthcare across different levels of complexity. For instance, AI-guided bots can offer solutions to straightforward ailments while wearable devices can help in the early diagnosis and prevention of chronic diseases especially in cases of hereditary predisposition. Immersive VR/AR tools can enhance remote collaboration and train surgeons to perform complicated surgical procedures.

According to Markets and Markets, the industry is expected to dominate the global healthcare market in the next few years with a projected value of USD 285.7 billion in 2028. However, challenges like reimbursement, licensing, privacy, and regulatory uncertainty necessitate clear rules prior to its implementation on a larger scale.