What does telemedicine mean for expats?
In the pandemic era, the whole world has got used to everything becoming remote, for good or for bad, by choice or not. However, there are some sectors that since long before the lockdown, had their tele- variations emerging, and telemedicine is one of them. But, what does telemedicine mean for expats?
Apart from seeking second opinions and best specialists/facilities in other countries, there are very often cultural reasons behind the demand for telemedicine for expats as well – taking the drastically different mentality and approach towards preventive health care and treatments as an example, expats constantly receive cultural shocks such as “paracetamol and chill for broken limbs”, as well as the opposite extreme, “taking antibiotics like candy”. Even not taking into consideration the language barrier, which is often extra overwhelming in a medical context filled with complicated terminology and jargon, it is understandable that many people would prefer to talk to someone with a similar cultural background, who tends to understand their bodies better, or who at least wouldn’t easily downplay their concerns, and who tends to offer diagnosis and treatments that make them more comfortable.
Not only for humans, there are also many occasions where pet owners rely on telemedicine to seek help with vets in another location, often back in their home country, or where they lived before with the pets, which may be where the pets came from.
Why is it important?
Although telemedicine has its obvious regulatory restrictions, with patient confidentiality and medication access to start with, its demand is undeniable, and understanding the why and how would surely help position a business in the healthcare sector one step ahead and grab potential opportunities.
At ADK Insights, we constantly follow trends in the health and wellness industry to provide timely consumer insights and prepare companies for the future. If you would like to exchange thoughts or you’re curious about our Digital Intelligence Services, please contact Nimrod, Dam or Rob at ADK Insights.