Mobile Healthcare: Markets and Trends for M-health Applications

The use of mobile communications to support health services is a growing global trend. M-health - as it is commonly referred to - promises cost-efficiencies and improved health outcomes with a dizzying array of services beyond the humble appointment reminder. The explosion of mobile broadband and the promise of high data speeds with LTE make high bandwidth applications for remote monitoring and diagnosis an exciting value proposition. The market potential is significant, but can only be realised once a myriad of questions surrounding market fragmentation, technology, regulation and value chain partnerships are resolved.Philippa Hobbs, Business Research Executive, Informa Telecoms & Media

The rise in global healthcare expenditure, declining staff and hospital bed numbers, an aging population and growing incidence of chronic illness such as heart disease and diabetes is driving healthcare provision out of hospitals and into homes.

M-health - healthcare supported by mobile and wireless technologies - is no longer seen as a costly non-essential but an enabler of cost-effective care and better overall health outcomes. Public and private healthcare providers are beginning to implement mobile solutions in voice and data communications to improve service access and efficiency, and their demand for wireless monitoring solutions for ongoing care outside the hospital is driving M2M innovation in healthcare products by operators and vendors.

This unique report reviews the whole spectrum of possible mhealth products and services, including:

Information/communication

• Connected workforces applications
• Patient engagement
• Patient data management
• Mobile prescriptions and billing
• Access to medical research

Remote monitoring applications

• Patient tracking
• Medical supplies and equipment status
• Drug compliance
• Patient health status, sensor networks
• Lone worker protection

Surveillance applications

• Disease incidence response
• Disaster relief
• Resource management

Diagnostic applications

• Telemedicine
• Remote medication administration
• Diagnostic support

Mobile operators:

• Understand how the mobile healthcare value chain is evolving and where your position in it may be
• Identify where the potential opportunities to drive revenue exist
• Find out who the key players are and where successful strategic partnerships may lie

Device and component vendors:

• Understand what new technologies are emerging and which to pursue
• Identify who to partner with to bring targeted products to market quickly and cost-effectively
• Find out who is driving demand and what the potential market size is
• Understand the impact of clinical regulation on mobile devices for the medical market

Healthcare professionals, pharmaceutical companies and government health and regulatory departments:

• Find out how mobile technology can be leveraged for improved efficiency within healthcare organisations and better health outcomes
• Identify key suppliers of m-health services and products and discover who is innovating in what areas of m-health
• Understand what issues must be overcome for scalable implementation of m-health

Consultants, banks and investors:

• Gain a complete overview of how the healthcare market is a growing enterprise segment for telecoms companies and where the investment opportunities may lie
• Find out what clear trends are emerging and what strategies are being implemented
• Understand the future outlook across different healthcare systems globally