Digital Economy - E-Health

Synopsis

E-health is rapidly shaping up as one of the key killer apps on the truly high-speed broadband networks and millions of people around the world can potentially benefit from e-health applications. In the western world we are facing a massive dilemma in relation to healthcare. New technologies and knowledge has resulted in increased life expectation and improved lifestyles. The cost of this however is enormous, and we simply can no longer afford to finance these huge advancements through the public health systems. In countries with proper broadband infrastructure, we see e-health shaping up as a way that will allow us to enjoy these advances in medical technology and medical services, at a more affordable cost. This report provides an overview of the key developments occurring in the e-health market, including analysis and broad global statistics.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
  
• 2. Scope
  
• 3. Massive costs of healthcare
  
  • 3.1 Patient remains central
    
• 4. E-Health – killer app on true broadband
  
  • 4.1 Broadband essential to maintain public health system
    
  • 4.2 NBN/NGN should support collaborative services concepts
    
  • 4.3 IT also key to sustainable healthcare
    
  • 4.4 Aged care services at home
    
  • 4.5 Video consultation and health monitoring
    
  • 4.6 Internet already a popular source for health information
    
  • 4.7 Privacy a key concern
    
  • 4.8 Accountability and transparency
    
  • 4.9 There simply is no alternative to e-health
    
• 5. Recent developments
  
  • 5.1 Wound Technology Network
    
  • 5.2 Vodafone creates mobile healthcare unit
    
  • 5.3 Digital Health Initiative (DHI)
    
  • 5.4 Using Twitter for e-health
    
  • 5.5 iPhone applications to assist healthcare industry
    
  • 5.6 E-Payments in healthcare
    
  • 5.7 US medicare to approve e-consultations?
    
  • 5.8 Internet media companies want to be part of the action
    
  • 5.9 Cloud computing
    
• 6. Brief case study – Estonia’s e-health evolution
  
• 7. Urgent rethink needed about e-health delivery
  
  • 7.1 Bureaucratic framework hopelessly inadequate
    
  • 7.2 ICT more than ready to address serious issues in society
    
  • 7.3 Redefining a medical consultation
    
  • 7.4 Redefining service delivery
    
  • 7.5 Deregulate and democratise the bureaucracy
    
  • 7.6 National broadband – key infrastructure for e-health
    
• 8. E-health: start with the professionals
  
• 9. Related reports
  

• Table 1 – Projected regional increases in total healthcare spending – 2020 - 2050
• Table 2 – Worldwide broadband subscribers – 2003 – 2010; 2013
• Table 3 – Top 10 countries worldwide by fixed broadband subscribers – Q1 2009
• Table 4 – Number of consumers using health monitoring – North America; Western Europe – 2008; 2012
• Table 5 – Market value and growth of e-health – 2009; 2012

• Exhibit 1 – Selected healthcare spending statistics
• Exhibit 2 – Broadband enabling better chronic disease management in Australia
• Exhibit 3 – Advantages of e-health
• Exhibit 4 – Digital healthcare appointment systems
• Exhibit 5 – Examples of popular health related websites
• Exhibit 6 – E-Health project examples
• Exhibit 7 – Definition: Cloud computing