Emerging Markets

Emerging markets lead the way for mHealth -

January 16, 2013

http://www.cover.co.za/news/emerging-markets-lead-the-way-for-mhealth

The article is about the adoption of a mobile technology in healthcare or mHealth in the developed and emerging markets. Patients are expecting improved access to healthcare, quality, availability of services, and reduced cost of healthcare. However, the industry is reluctant to encourage patients to make use of the service, believing that patients would become too independent, and healthcare professionals would lose income. mHealth is defined as the provision of healthcare or health-related information through the use of mobile devices, with mobile applications and services that include remote patient monitors, video conferencing, online consultations, personal healthcare devices, wireless access to patient records and prescriptions. mHealth has the ability to enable access to quality care without the costs and difficulties associated with traditional methods.

I think that the article is right about the need for adopting this new technology in developing countries, where health coverage in urban and rural areas is very limited due to poor road and medical infrastructure, and insufficient medical services available. Also, the availability of mobile devices at lower costs, and the broader access to internet in remote areas, allows for patients to use mHealth at their own home, without having to travel for hours to visit a doctor; by simply holding a video conference with the doctor. However, the barriers that are being imposed by the medical industry impede changing the system from a doctor-direct care to a patient-as-a-consumer approach. I think that this technology is a great idea for locations where technology and internet will arrive quicker than infrastructure and access to health coverage. This approach will be the future of health care not only in emerging countries but in the whole world