eHealth news & analysis
More than 90 per cent of the world’s 40 largest telecom network operator groups are active in the enterprise healthcare market, according to research from Informa Telecoms & Media. And a ranking of all operators – based on their commitment to the healthcare market worldwide – puts BT in top spot, closely followed by Verizon and France Telecom.
In a blow to operators’ ambitions for the telehealth market, results from the world’s largest randomised trial have cast doubt on the cost benefits of managing long-term conditions at home. The UK’s Whole System Demonstrator (WSD) program monitored the progress of 3,230 people with diabetes, pulmonary disease or heart failure over the course of 12 months from 2008-9. In the first of five peer-reviewed evaluations just published, academics from the Nuffield Trust and eight universities conclude that the reduction in hospital admission costs is “not significant”.
Brazil’s economy is growing fast, with 40 million people making the transition to the new middle class in the last ten years. But while there is visible wealth in certain areas of big cities like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro there is still huge poverty, both urban and rural. Against this backdrop, communications services are being deployed to change the lives of millions of people.
Healthcare is arguably the most complex vertical sector in the world. It has also been one of the slowest to invest in It. Mobile operators are well positioned to help the health sector to modernise, cut costs and improve efficiencies and, in doing so, establish themselves at the centre of an industry that is only going to carry on growing.
Nascent m-health initiatives are under threat from a lack of structural support and funding. This is where the World Health Organisation comes in—and operators have a crucial part to play.
Orange has had a dedicated e-health unit in place since 2007. The unit is headed by Thierry Zylberberg, who spoke to Telecoms.com about the the intricacies of the health sector and the best ways for telcos help it improve efficiencies, and drive new revenue streams for themselves.
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