If you're planning on launching a remote treatment program or partnering with a healthcare provider in Germany, don't. Remote telehealth programs are banned in that country. But they are encouraged in Spain.
Market conditions for mHealth vary greatly across Europe, according to a new report issued by the research2guidance. In fact, the Berlin-based marketing company's analysis of five key mHealth factors in 28 EU countries finds that developers and providers looking to do business overseas will need to study the conditions in each nation very carefully before moving forward.
Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, for example, have at least 70 percent smartphone penetration among adults, with more than 90 percent describing themselves as "regular Internet users." On the other end of the spectrum sits Greece, with far less digital access, and Hungary, where only 10 percent of the population uses tablets.
And you thought cross-state licensure was frustrating.
“Companies with mHealth solutions that integrate into a traditional healthcare system of a given EU country need to be selective when considering countries within which to launch their services,” Zuzana Vranova, a senior research analyst at research2guidance, offered in a press release.
"EU mHealth Market Conditions Benchmarking 2015," prepared by r2g and mHealth Summit Europe, looks at eHealth (the more commonly used moniker for digital or mHealth) adoption, mHealth market potential, level of digitization, ease of starting a business and mHealth regulation in each EU nation, based on 26 criteria. The report also incorporates the ratings of more than 4,000 mHealth practitioners on each nation's market readiness for mHealth.
In terms of market readiness for mHealth, the report notes that health expenditures as a percentage of a nation's GDP ranges from 12 percent in the Netherlands to just 5 percent in Romania. And the number of days needed to receive necessary documentation to launch an mHealth business varies from as little as three days to five weeks.
“Countries must understand they are in direct competition for the best mHealth app developers. Therefore they should see developers as a key target group," Ralf-Gordon Jahns, r2g's managing director, said in the release. "If countries are able to improve their domestic mHealth market prerequisites then they will be able to attract the best talents."
The report also notes that ePrescribing has 100 percent penetration in some countries, but isn't being used at all in others. The same variance is seen in the use of electronic health records platforms.
See also:
Digital health in the EU - moving 'beyond the pill'
The future looks bright for mHealth
GSMA highlights mHealth, diabetes management with bike tour through Europe
