Italy: opinion about usage of telemedicine 2018

A recent study published by Ipsos, indicates that a significant share of Italians has never used telemedicine services, but that they were willing to try. Telemedicine refers to the use of information technology to deliver remote diagnosis and health treatments. With reference to the actual recourse to telemedicine, just five percent of respondents stated that they had already resorted to it. Among them only two percent expressed the intention to use telehealth services again.

 Telemedicine in Italian pharmacies

On the other hand, Italian pharmacies came across as being well equipped in providing the possibility to take diagnostic tests such as electrocardiogram, Holter pressure monitoring and ECG Holter analysis from remote. Telecardiology services were quite widespread throughout Italy, with some regional differences. Aosta Valley, Apulia and Marche were the regions where most of pharmacies could provide these kinds of services. Data also suggest that tele-pulmonology, on the other hand, was not so common in Italian pharmacies.

The absence of human touch

To all appearances the digitalization process of the Italian health sector still needs to be implemented, especially in some fields and regions. Nonetheless, in recent years progresses have been made. The main concern among patients seems to be the lack of humanity that many digital health services, including telemedicine, may bring about.