Telemedicine, mobile health reduce burden on health system, says medical expert

Health care systems all over the world are facing an unprecedented challenge due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Technologies such as telemedicine and mobile health, however, could reduce the burden for doctors and hospitals, said Dr. Mobasher Butt, chief medical officer at Babylon Health, a UK-based health service provider that provides remote consultations solutions with doctors and health care professionals.

Telemedicine is the practice of caring for patients remotely with the use of telecommunications technology, while mobile health or mHealth refers to medical and public health practice supported by mobile devices.

In a PRUWise webinar on Thursday, Dr. Butt said technological health solutions not only “provide patients with highly accessible, good quality care, but [these] also reduce the burden on the health system.”

With the help of technologies such as artificial intelligence, mobile health, and telemedicine, patients can easily check on their health status without having to go to a doctor—or at least not right away.

And by offloading the burden on the health system, these technologies also help hospitals reduce cost while providing more access to health care to the public, according to Dr. Butt.

In the Philippines, some doctors, hospitals, and health care institutions have been using telemedicine and teleconsultations even before the pandemic.

With the COVID-19 outbreak, many hospitals ramped up their digital health services, including Makati Medical Center, The Medical City, and UST Hospital in Metro Manila; and Batangas Medical Center and Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Luzon and Mindanao, among other private and public hospitals all over the Philippines. 

The Department of Health also launched teleconsultation hotlines in April as the viral disease spread across the country. 

In February, insurance company Pru Life UK and Babylon Health launched Pulse, a health app that uses AI and assessment tools to help users check on their condition and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“What we want to do is not just help people when they’re sick, which is what traditionally happens with health systems, we’re very reactive. But how can we be proactive? How do we keep people healthy?” said Dr. Butt.

Apart from its symptom and health check features, the app also offers a COVID-19 protection plan to Filipino users for free as a limited offer.

“By harnessing technology, we can really transform not only the way people access health care but how it is delivered,” the chief medical officer said.

As for telemedicine, Dr. Butt said it’s “amazing” how consultation and treatment could be available with just a few clicks.

“There’s still something amazing about pressing a few buttons on your phone and suddenly you’re connected to a real doctor who can assess you, who can determine what’s wrong, who can prescribe medication for you for as necessary, and within a few hours the medication is delivered to your door,” he told GMA News Online.

“Being able provide [patients] with treatment all from the comfort of their home, all through their smartphone is just incredible,” he added.

Dr. Butt, however, also cited that telemedicine had limitations, as it didn’t allow for physical interactions between a patient and a physician.

“When you’re using digital health or telemedicine, it can’t solve everything,” he said.

“Nine out of 10 times, if you have a video consultation with a doctor, they’ll be able to manage your case just through the video. They’ll be able to either give you reassurance, prescribe you something. But 10 percent of the time, you’ll need to see someone,” he added. – GMA News