NBN releases telehealth report in Australia

 21-Mar-16, ZD Net

The company responsible for rolling out the National Broadband Network (NBN) across Australia has released a research paper on e-health, spruiking the benefits of using high-speed broadband for monitoring health and conducting telehealth conferences with doctors.

The report was released as part of NBN's new Digital Diagnosis program, which exists primarily to push broadband as a health enabler.

Image: NBN

"The rollout of fast broadband via the NBN network is allowing more people to harness everything from GP video-conferencing to fitness apps," the report says.

As more people understand and gain access to telehealth services, research shows that almost two thirds (62 percent) of respondents would feel more equipped to make informed health decisions. A large percentage of people would feel safer knowing they can monitor their health from home (57 percent).

50 percent of respondents use telehealth for its convenience; 34 percent use it for better managing their health; and 21 percent use it in place of going to a doctor when they are unable to get an appointment.

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