Wicklund, Eric. "mHealth: Embraced by Developing World, Resisted by Developed Countries." Healthcare IT News, June 8, 2012.
From the article: "A new study of the global mHealth market finds that consumers and developing
countries are driving its growth, while physicians are reluctant to adapt.
Those are some of the conclusions drawn from “Emerging Health: Paths for
Growth,” published by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The 48-page report, based on two
separate surveys conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit and analyzing 10
nations, indicates developing nations are quicker to accept and adopt
telehealth because it’s seen as a way to increase access to healthcare, while
developed nations like the United States are being dogged down by regulatory
hurdles and a resistance to change among providers. ..
In developing countries… mHealth is seen as a new market with exciting
possibilities. New startups and business models, with assistance from the
telecommunications sector, Wasden said, are driving mHealth to unprecedented
levels of growth. That, he said, is why the African nations and India are among
the hotbeds for new innovation in mHealth.
In developed nations…providers – and to a lesser extent payers – say there
are too many barriers to mHealth. More than one-quarter of those surveyed in
both categories say the conservative culture in healthcare is a leading
barrier; others include complex regulations and technology, lack of access to
wireless services; and massive changes to the physician’s workload." Read more
See also
How can we be sure that mobile healthcare (mHealth) isn't just technology-driven hype? PricewaterhouseCoopers website.