The Diffusion and Challenges of Telemedicine in the With/After COVID-19 Era

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  • Kinoshita Shotaro
    Hills Joint Research Laboratory for Future Preventive Medicine and Wellness, Keio University School of Medicine

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Other Title
  • COVID-19パンデミック前後における遠隔医療の普及と課題
  • COVID-19パンデミック前後における遠隔医療の普及と課題 : 政策の観点から
  • COVID-19 パンデミック ゼンゴ ニ オケル エンカク イリョウ ノ フキュウ ト カダイ : セイサク ノ カンテン カラ
  • －政策の観点から

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Abstract

<p>With the development of ICT technology, telemedicine has emerged to examine patients in remote areas using video phones and other devices. At first, telemedicine was used only in limited situations, but with the spread of ICT devices, it is now being used in all regions. However, by the end of fiscal year 2019, the role of telemedicine in the overall healthcare system was not significant in Japan and other countries.</p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic, which has been in full swing since 2020, has raged around the world and changed society drastically. In the medical field as well, various effects such as reduction or suspension of outpatient services and interruption of clinical trials due to COVID-19 patient care and infection control appeared. Under such circumstances, telemedicine attracted attention from the perspective of infection control, and its use expanded around the world. Even in countries where laws and regulations had been an obstacle to the spread of telemedicine, temporary and exceptional deregulation was implemented, opening the way for its use.</p><p>Whether the spread of telemedicine will be sustained in the post-COVID-19 era depends on whether such deregulation will continue. In countries like Japan, where even after deregulation, there are still many restrictions in terms of reimbursement, it will be difficult for telemedicine to become more widespread unless these restrictions are further improved. In order to achieve a new form of medical care that can meet the various needs of patients, policies for the appropriate spread of telemedicine are required.</p><p>As telemedicine rapidly expands, issues such as security risks and the digital divide are being pointed out. After COVID-19 era, the digitalization of society is expected to increase, so it is necessary to take measures before these problems become serious.</p><p>This paper provides an overview of the spread of telemedicine and changes in the With COVID-19 era, and summarizes the issues for the After COVID-19 era.</p>

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