The aim of this study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the market potential for telemedicine services using satellite with identification of opportunities and threats and specific insight on the regulatory barriers.
This last years several trials and pilot projects showed that satellite offers an appropriate and favourable solution for a lot of telemedicine applications and services, such as:
Satellite technologies and telecommunications have capabilities that satisfy the specific communication requirements of a telemedicine network such as ubiquity and distance independence, easy deployment, immediate connectivity, interactivity, adequate bitrate, security, etc.
However, the commercialisation of the telemedicine services has not yet reached maturity. A number of important issues such as absence of a specific regulatory framework, lack of common standards and norms etc. are still hindering the commercialisation process of tele-medicine services. As a result, a potentially large market (in Europe only, there are around 800,000 doctors, 160,000 dentists, 200,000 pharmacies and 25,000 hospitals) has not yet fostered telemedicine as a new method of work.
This study is aiming at providing a clear understanding of the potential telemedicine via satellite business development by: identifying the more relevant services and applications, analysing and modelling the service value chains, performing market assessment and costs analysis to evaluate the competitiveness of the satellite solutions as regards alternative means and the added-value of telemedicine services as regards traditional health care models, identifying the regulatory frameworks and potential barriers, etc.
The key issues addressed in the study are:
On one hand this study is expected to give a clear picture on the telemedicine services and applications that could gain real benefit from using satellite technologies not only on the technical side but also on the economical and organisational side.
On the other hand it will show satellite industries and operators of ESA member states what are the potential opportunities in term of business development of the telemedicine services using satellite. It will thus help decisions makers to realise what directions should be privileged in the future to ensure that satellite and telemedicine developments matched together to provide sustainable and useful services for the citizens and the health communities.
Not applicable.
The study is divided in 4 main activities: |
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Task 1: Summary review of telemedicine technology, applications and services.
Task 2: Modelling of the telemedicine service value chain:
Task 3: Market analysis:
Task 4: Review of the regulatory aspects:
The study was completed in March 2006 and the final presentation will take place shortly.