Overstretched health services and social-distancing measures to combat COVID-19 are giving a boost to telemedicine across Asia, a phenomenon likely to continue even after the pandemic has been controlled.
Economies as diverse as South Korea’s, with its world-class technology sector, and India’s, with low health-care costs and a deep pool of doctors, are exploring digital health possibilities at a time when patients may hesitate to visit clinics for fear of the coronavirus.
The potential is tremendous: Asia-Pacific’s telemedicine market is expected to grow from $8.5 billion this year to $22.5 billion by 2025, according to a report from Market Data Forecast. While it’s mostly a domestic phenomenon for now — regulations in many countries make it difficult to consult a doctor abroad — growing acceptance of remote consultations is improving the availability of health care for underserved communities across Asia.