The global market for mobile health (m-health) technology is expected to generate $6.7 billion in revenues in 2014, according to a new report by market research firm Visiongain.
With austerity measures forcing many health departments around the globe to rein in spending and to operate more cost-effectively, m-health promises extensive cost savings for healthcare professionals and institutions by enabling them to remotely diagnose, monitor, and communicate with patients, Visiongain said.
The company said that m-health technology will also pay dividends to network operators, software developers, and data platform management providers who turn their attention to the medical field.
Mobile health applications include the use of mobile devices in collecting community and clinical data; delivery of healthcare information to practitioners, researchers, and patients; real-time monitoring of patients' vital signs; and the direct provision of care via mobile telemedicine, Visiongain said.
There are more than a million m-health applications available today in app stores, ranging from those that focus on diet and daily fitness routines to costly premium apps with elaborate clinical reference points, images, and diagnostic and monitoring functions, according to the firm.
