H2O and F360 will collaborate with the Philippines’ largest conlomerates to implement a brand new tele-health initiative. Telehealth is the delivery of health-related services and information via telecommunications technologies. “Telehealth delivery could be as simple as two health professionals discussing a case over the telephone, or as sophisticated as using videoconferencing to between providers at facilities in two countries, or even as complex as robotic technology [wikipedia]“. The pilot will be slated to begin in Q4-2009.
Telehealth benefits patients in countries where traditional delivery of health services are affected by distance and lack of local specialist clinicians to deliver services. The rate of adoption of telehealth services in any jurisdiction is frequently influenced by factors such as the adequacy and cost of existing conventional health services in meeting patient needs; the policies of governments and/or insurers with respect to coverage and payment for telehealth services; and medical licensing requirements that may inhibit or deter the provision of telehealth second opinions or primary consultations by physicians.
