Mobile strong in healthcare
Jinfo Blog

By Joanna Ptolomey

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My recent LiveWire post reported a new mobile communications for medical care publication from Cambridge University.  This report considers the use of mobile (mHealth) technology to enhance healthcare delivery and outcomes.

The report also touches on some of the points I made in my Oh so healthy LiveWire post, namely that mobile health and social media tools have the potential to transform healthcare.  This includes reducing the costs of healthcare delivery, improving the effectiveness of public health campaigns and preventing illness through behaviour change and managing chronic disease.

There are opportunities in the developed and developing world.

Mobile networks and devices in many developed countries are almost universal.  And in many developing countries mobile networks and devices are providing a higher penetration into the market than fixed networks.  New generations of smartphones offer greater computing power with interfaces that are intuitive and sensor-packed, as well as tools for connecting and sharing content.

The business models vary in terms of infrastructure investment, development by and with policy makers and healthcare providers and other outsider service providers and platforms.  There are some useful recommendations for policy makers (governments, NGOs), communications operators, medical device manufacturers, healthcare providers (and insurers).

This report is comprehensive and covers:

• Objectives, approach and overview of the mHealth market
• Overview of existing applications of mHealth
• Overview of potential next generation applications of mHealth 
• Illustrative business cases for mHealth provision 
• Realising the health benefits to society
• Deployment of mHealth application.

One of the most interesting sections is a chapter about China.  It includes a selection of mHealth case studies from China.  There is also some very fascinating background information on the Chinese healthcare system – how it operates, financial considerations, regulatory issues and local practices.

Mobile health is very strong in healthcare and this report suggests that this is only the start.  With mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets becoming the norm in a healthcare setting to manage healthcare delivery, expect this market to continue to be stellar.

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