TELEMEDICINE and BlockHealth
The medical world is undergoing an evolution…and this is constant. Technology now plays a vital role in the medical field. As doctors search for better ways to treat patients, technology has offered many great advances to the field of medicine and healthcare. With the advancement in medical technology, it is now possible to access information or medical services that would be unavailable under normal circumstances.
But what is telemedicine?
Telemedicine is a term that describes the exchange of information, medical information specifically, between sites via electronic communications. The purpose of this is to improve a person’s health.
Telemedicine has been in practice for at least 40 years. It is a rapidly evolving field of medicine. Many times, patients find it difficult to get an appointment with the physician (specialists and primary care doctors). There may be a lengthy waiting list and even having a referral is no guarantee to a quick appointment. With telemedicine, it is possible to being the physician and his patient together in a more efficient manner.
Telemedicine on BlockHealth Platform
On BlockHealth you will be able to have a telemedicine video conference with your doctor where you can give him read permission to the documents he needed. Also, other medical specialists or medical professions along the treatment chain can join the conference call to consult among themselves for the best treatment plan suitable for the patient and his condition.
This will also be a great opportunity for areas without a medical infrastructure but the need for medical specialists.
Importance for Africa and other areas without medical infrastructure
Development of the African economy has reached a level where the government can kick-start a strategic reform of health systems to create a modern and up-to-date healthcare system. Implementation of such programs (such as telemedicine) will assist the health problems faced by African nations and give them the opportunity to take the next leap forward in social and economic development.
Market growth of Telemed
According to statista.com, the global telemedicine market was valued at $18 billion in 2015. It is expected that it will rise to at least $40 billion until 2021.
Forecast
It is expected that the global telemedicine market will reach $113.1 billion by 2025. This is according to a report by Grand View Research, Inc. Prominent drivers of the market include rising incidences of prominent conditions and increasing demand for self-care. Also, virtual medicine, rising demand for healthcare centralization and enhancing application of the internet is expected to save on cost incurred, which is very essential for the advancement of the telemedicine market.
