Ghislaine Alajouanine : "Telehealth: a revolution in healthcare"

Point of view of Ghislaine Alajouanine (President of the French High Council of Telehealth).
 

Vulnerable people will be able to remain where they live, if they so wish, thanks to the development of technologies for secure, remote monitoring of their health (telehealth-e-health=telemedecine + personal assistance). Together with a strong political will that is more than just a passing trend, the drive towards new technologies has to lead to a positive transformation in society, to improve the wellbeing of each citizen and provide fair healthcare for all, while accelerating the development of a flourishing economy and creating sustainable jobs.

 

Currently, the warning "in terms of health, our house is on fire!", repeated so many times over the last two years by the French High Council of Telehealth, has never been more relevant. Also known as the "Galien" Commission, it was set up in 2008 by 12 founding members and to date has around 40 extremely high-level public figures from patient associations, healthcare professionals' associations, academics, industry representatives and top civil servants. Its objective is simple – to make France a world leader in telehealth, so as to serve the health needs of all of our citizens fairly. And to act as a powerful driving force when required.

 

So what are the challenges? To answer the question posed by worried citizens, wherever they may be and whatever their means – "what's wrong with me?" – and the question posed by healthcare professionals – "what should I do in this situation?" Yet the technological tools are available and can provide an appropriate response, particularly in areas with low levels of healthcare provision. Telemedecine may not be a panacea... but it has become indispensable!

 

This "revolution in healthcare" is a challenge within our reach. This was the credo expressed by the Galien Commission when it addressed the parliamentary mission chaired by deputy Pierre Lasbordes, who has submitted his plan for the national rollout of telehealth to the Minister of Health. Recommending the urgent implementation of a plan of attack against inequalities in public health which are set to increase (due to the ageing population and the lack of healthcare professionals and funding), the Galien Commission proposes launching the HS2 (high security health) plan, along the lines of a Marshall Plan for health, in the form of a major long-term project, and creating a new industry to respond to this future homecare market with funding from the €35 billion Grand Emprunt or "Big Loan" investment package recently announced by President Sarkozy. In pragmatic terms, the HS2 plan will respond to third dimension sustainable development standards and aims to link the country together with tools that can ensure fair healthcare for all via new technologies. The major business organizations are supporting this vast project and are mobilizing to make sure it succeeds. 

 

"For is not health the greatest good?" Socrates asked many centuries ago. The rapid and gradual development of telehealth can respond to this challenge, and is all the more likely to do so because it is part of a five-year presidential project. Our fellow citizens would not understand the political differences surrounding this national consensus. 

So let's reconcile economic and social policy together, to serve a great national cause.