Is mHealth Just Technology-Driven Hype?

This mHealth report from PwC reveals that mobile is positioned to have a huge impact on how healthcare is delivered. It offers opportunities to address one of the most pressing global challenges, which is making healthcare more accessible, faster, better and cheaper.

This mHealth report from PwC reveals that mobile is positioned to have a huge impact on how healthcare is delivered. It offers opportunities to address one of the most pressing global challenges, which is making healthcare more accessible, faster, better and cheaper.

Three major trends in healthcare lend themselves to the revolution in mobile technology:

1. Aging population

Aging populations and chronic illness are driving regulatory reform. Public sector healthcare is seeking better access and quality, and it’s looking to the private sector for innovation and efficiency. mHealth improves access and quality, and offers dramatic innovation and cost reduction.

2. Foundations already in place

The foundations of industrialisation of healthcare are already in place — electronic medical records, remote monitoring and communications. ‘Care anywhere’ is already emerging. The platform for mHealth is set.

3. Personalisation

Healthcare, like other industries, is getting personal. mHealth can offer personal toolkits for predictive, participatory and preventative care.

Valuable insights into patients, doctors and payers view on mHealth. Find out what they told PwC, and learn more about the potential of mobile health in developed and emerging markets, the challenges, and the impact on stakeholders.

Key findings from the EIU 2012 report:

Expectations vs. reality

• Roughly half of patients say mHealth will improve the cost, quality and convenience of their healthcare in the next three years.
• Six in ten doctors and payers think widespread adoption in their countries is inevitable in the near future — but most think adoption will take time.

Innovation vs. resistance

• New technology is not enough. Widespread adoption of mHealth will require changes in behaviour.
• Innovators must learn to navigate around attitudes that are often rigid toward change.

Colliding interests, competing visions

• Patients want convenience and control. Doctors are resistant to this loss of control — in fact, 64% worry that mHealth makes patients too independent.
• Payers are already interested in mHealth’s value for money. How will this impact doctors’ resistance to change?

Emerging market trailblazers

• Eight out of ten emerging market doctors recommend mHealth services, and more payers cover the costs than in developed countries. 59% of patients already use it.
• Why? Where existing healthcare is scarce, there is a greater demand for change and fewer entrenched interests — so change is more welcome.

Solutions vs. technology

• 49% of patients say cost is the biggest barrier to mHealth.
• 64% of doctors and payers are excited about mHealth, but say there aren’t enough proven business models. Vendors must collaborate with payers and current providers to build an mHealth ecosystem with longevity and efficacy.

The patient perspective

mHealth offers patients easier access to care and control over their own health. 60% of those who use mHealth already say it has replaced visits to doctors or nurses. No matter what road we travel with ACO and healthcare reform, we are on an interesting and exciting journey.