More telecommunications companies are looking to enter the wireless health care market, BusinessWeek reports.
The mobile health, or m-health, market includes a range of wireless health services, from text messaging to remind people to take medications to implants that monitor heart patients. Telecom operators view the m-health field as an important source of future revenue.
Cellular phone providers know they face substantial competition in the field from medical equipment manufacturers and numerous startups. Some telecom providers have decided to team up with medical equipment makers to more easily develop and market products.
Business Model Needed
For the market to take off, hospitals, insurers and physicians need to find a business model for m-health. Hospitals and telecom providers will have to collect more clinical evidence that m-health can improve care and save money to persuade insurers or government health systems to cover costs.