- COVID-19 pandemic triggered a massive surge in virtual health and care delivery across the world, with many countries embracing hybrid virtual and in-person services
- Report from the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development Working Group on Virtual Health and Care – co-chaired by the World Health Organization and the Novartis Foundation – provides learnings from 23 countries
- The report calls on health decision makers to act to prevent digital divides from increasing health inequities: countries need to implement clear policies that ensure equitable and inclusive access to virtual services for entire populations
Basel, June 16, 2022 — Many unnecessary restrictions on virtual health and care were swept away by the pandemic, and most people have embraced this new world of virtual care, according to a new report from a Broadband Commission on Sustainable Development working group. The Future of Health and Care – driving access and equity through inclusive policies details how the past two years have changed access to health and care in 23 countries as diverse as Rwanda, Singapore and the United States.
Virtual health solutions are those that seek to keep people healthy; care solutions treat those who are already sick. The use of both surged during the pandemic. In the U.S., the percentage of telehealth claims out of all health claims was 25 times higher in January 2022 compared to October 2019. In India, the numbers of synchronous teleconsultations on the…
