The role of health economics in telemedicine

Telemedicine currently offers a wide range of potential applications. Transferring respective measures into daily practice definitely requires the proof of technical feasibility and medical benefit. Moreover, assuming acceptance of the specific measure by the intended users, successful implementation depends on the willingness of the potential sponsor to pay, and that in turn depends on whether the additional costs are matched by an adequate medical benefit or will even provide savings in the near future. Both these questions meet the essential competence of health economics. This review presents both the basic role of health economics in telemedicine as well as empirical evidence for the presence of health economic evaluations in telemedicine to date. As this picture shows health economics to be neglected as an element of the overall evaluation of respective projects, providers miss an essential argument necessary for the successful implementation of their tools and measures.