Government Mandate will put UK at the Forefront of World in Telehealth
Date: 08 December 2011

Plans by the United Kingdom Government to provide telehealth services to 3 Million patients over the next five years, will have a profound impact on the world telehealth market, catapulting the UK to pole position. More importantly, it should improve UK patients’ clinical outcomes and quality of life.

 

 

According to InMedica forecasts, should the 3 Million Lives (3ML) campaign be fully implemented as planned by 2016, the UK will grow to account for 74% of worldwide telehealth patient numbers; an increase from the 4% in 2010. This is in line with the Prime Minister David Cameron’s vision for the project to “ensure that the UK stays ahead.”

 

However, the front-running UK programme should also be an impetus to other countries to catch up. A major hindrance in the telehealth market to date has been the lack of a clear evidence-base on the clinical and economic outcomes of monitoring patients’ vital signs from their homes. The basis of the 3ML campaign has been the successful Whole System Demonstrator trial of 6,191 patients which has shown some encouraging results: 15% reduction in A&E visits; 20% reduction in emergency admissions; 14% reduction in elective admissions; 14% reduction in bed days; 8% reduction in tariff costs; and 45% reduction in mortality rates. This may provide strong evidence for payers in other countries, particularly in the US, who are hesitant to provide reimbursement for telehealth application.

 

In taking this step towards telehealth, the UK has shown much needed leadership in the global telehealth market. Indeed this implementation may serve as a tipping point towards the widespread adoption of telehealth and cause even stronger market growth. It will be crucial that outcomes can be shown true on a wider scale over the next five years. Only then will this serve as a reference point for other health systems looking to implement their own programs. As such, the benefits to patients should spread beyond UK borders.

By Theo Ahadome, Market Analyst InMedica

Editors Note :

For more information please contact: Clive Savage - PR Consultant T: +44 (0)207 378 3472 clive@greenfieldscommunications.com Theo Ahadome – InMedica (A Division of IMS Research) T: +44 1933 402255 theo.ahadome@in-medica.com

About InMedica :

InMedica is the brand name of IMS Research’s medical research group. We publish high quality, in-depth market research on Clinical Care Devices, Consumer Medical Devices, Medical Imaging & Healthcare IT and Telehealth. We offer our clients complete coverage of the global market, with dedicated reports on high growth regions, such as China, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. To find out more, contact InMedica: enquiries@in-medica.com; T: +44 (0) 1933 402255; www.in-medica.com