Telehealth use in APAC doubled since 2019: Bain & Company

The firm expects telemedicine adoption to grow through 2024.

Adoption of telemedicine in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region has doubled with safety risks attributed to the growth, survey results from management consulting firm, Bain & Company, indicated.

A survey of 1,750 consumers across APAC showed that telehealth adoption went up by 47% in China in 2021, from 24% in 2019. The firm said it would grow by 76% in two years.

In Indonesia, it was at 25% in 2019, growing by 51%. Bain & Company said it would increase by 72% in 2024.

There was no 2019 data available on the telehealth use for Malaysia and the Philippines but both countries adopted the digital practice in 2021 with 30% and 48%, respectively. Bain and Company sees that both markets’ telehealth services will grow by 70% in 2024.

India registered 29% in telehealth use in 2019, then grew by 59% in 2021. It will soar by 68% in 2024, Bain & Company reported.

Singapore posted 16% of telemedicine use three years ago, it rose by 34% in 2021 then it will be up at 60% in 2024.

In Australia, telehealth utilisation increased ninefold from 5% in 2019 to 45% in 2021. The firm said it will go up by 56% in 2024.

More than five in 10 physicians also disclosed that more than 25% of their primary consultations could be delivered virtually in the coming years.

Physical checkups and interactions may have revived in some cases, Bain & Company said the digital delivery models are still permanent in the healthcare landscape triggered by the global health crisis.