PHP66 - CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN MARKET ACCESS OF E-HEALTH SOLUTIONS

Abstract

eHealth solutions are expected to bring essential value for healthcare systems allowing for more efficient provision of care, however, implementation of eHealth is still not widespread. This study aimed to identify key drivers and barriers for market access of eHealth solutions from various stakeholders’ perspectives (patients, healthcare professionals (HCPs), payers and pharma industry). A targeted literature review was performed in Medline and Embase, complemented by ad-hoc and primary search with country eHealth experts and payers. Geographical scope included France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. Key eHealth advantages for HCPs were better monitoring of patient’s behaviours and extended access to their data, resulting in supported clinical decision-making, while for patients advantages were easier healthcare access and empowerment to manage own health. Difficulty to use the technology, coverage uncertainty, data sharing and processing, or possible impact on the doctor-patient relationship were identified as key barriers for eHealth adoption for both HCPs and patients. From the payers’ perspective, eHealth solutions are expected to support measurement of healthcare quality and performance, and facilitate access to clinical and economic real world evidence (RWE). However, concerns over limited benefit evidence and extra costs brought by these solutions may discourage payers from eHealth funding. For the pharma industry, eHealth was reported as a new avenue of direct communication with customers and access to patient RWE, but it requires significant investment to establish long-term clinical benefits and develop cost impact models. There is a strong willingness to expand access to eHealth solutions, even though their relative novelty and complexity generate barriers for full implementation. Fast-pace of healthcare innovation, expansion of integrated healthcare services, patient centricity and ever-growing discussion about efficiencies of healthcare systems make a favourable environment for eHealth solutions to overcome current hurdles.