The economics of eHealth and mHealth
Schweitzer, J.; Synowiec, C.
Journal of Health Communication 17 Suppl. 1: 73-81
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 1081-0730 PMID: 22548602 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2011.649158Document Number: 563600
While mHealth has the potential to overcome traditional obstacles to the delivery of health services to the poor in lower and middle-income countries--issues related to access, quality, time, and resources--there is little evidence as to whether the expected benefits and savings can be actualized on a large scale. As a first step to developing the investment case for mHealth, this article outlines some of the key economic and financial questions that need to be answered in developing in-country eHealth investments. The proposed questions focus on the costs of eHealth infrastructure; regulatory structures that provide incentives at different levels of the health delivery system to encourage investment in, and use of, eHealth; and measuring the outcomes of successful eHealth utilization, including anticipated return on investment.