Limit travel, improve the coordination of care, the French are rather in favor of the deployment of e-health services.
E-health, yes, but not at any price. According to a survey carried out for the Cetelem Observatory (1), the collection of personal health data is an inevitable step for the majority of French people. But they are suspicious of the use that will be made of it. They massively refuse that private companies exploit them.
Apart from this refusal, respondents have a rather positive view of e-health, ie the digital aspects relating to health. 8 out of 10 claim that it will facilitate exchanges between health professionals, as part of a coordinated care pathway, for example. They also believe that it can help in the medical follow-up of patients. A particularly interesting use for patients suffering from a chronic condition.
Unsurprisingly, the French find their interest in the development of e-health. Teleconsultations and other remote consultation systems help to limit their own travel, they advance to more than 70%. And why not, some dream, participate in the fight against medical deserts.
No impact on prices
Some municipalities have already taken the plunge, like Cluny (Saône-et-Loire), which set up a gondola in 2014. But the implementation of these systems is struggling to gain momentum. scale – especially for lack of sufficient funding.
There remains the question of the use that can be made of telemedicine. On this point, citizens are rather divided. Half of them simply reject this option. The others are more open.
But there is no question, for them, of devoting this approach to complex consultations. On the other hand, they believe that a renewal of a prescription or the establishment of a medical certificate lends itself perfectly to this type of consultation.
“Beyond technical advances, the development of e-health can respond to issues that are at the heart of the concerns of many French people”, analyzes Flavien Neuvy, head of the Cetelem Observatory.
But the use of e-health, and in particular telemedicine, does not work miracles. And that, the French know it. 46% of respondents believe that its deployment will have no impact on medical prices. A quarter even think it could increase them.
(1) Harris Interactive survey for the Cetelem Observatory, conducted among 1,019 people aged 18 and over representative of the French population, interviewed via the Internet.
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