Comprehensive take on telemedicine in Czechia

Every now and then, a new term pops up in Czech healthcare, which then occupies a significant amount of space in public professional discussions, without us being able to tangibly see its practical application in the system. This category certainly includes the areas of digitization, HTA, and AI. However, the Ministry of Health has decided to take a different approach to the issue of telemedicine health services. As part of the National Recovery Plan, it has commissioned the Olomouc University Hospital to implement the project "Support for projects for innovative technologies in healthcare – telemedicine." Among other professional institutions, Porta Medica was also involved in this project.

This project is currently one of the most significant steps taken by the domestic healthcare system towards the systematic use of digital technologies in patient care. The aim of this project is to create a comprehensive and sustainable framework for the provision of remote healthcare services through telemedicine and mobile health applications, including verification of their benefits for patients and healthcare providers. The essence of the project is not only technological, but above all systemic and legislative preparation of an environment that will enable telemedicine to become an ordinary, full-fledged part of healthcare.

The project is divided into three main areas: creating a legislative and organizational framework, designing evaluation and reimbursement mechanisms, and building a communication platform that will enable secure data exchange between patients and providers. The project also includes pilot testing of the proposed methods in various clinical fields, such as cardiology, diabetology, pulmonology, neurology, and ophthalmology, where specific models of telemedicine interventions are being tested.

The project will run from January 2023 to May 2026, with a budget of CZK 170 million, financed by EU funds. It is being implemented by the National Telemedicine Centre, which operates at the Olomouc University Hospital, in cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine of Palacký University and other professional partners, including Porta Medica. The project aims to lay the foundations for a long-term transformation of healthcare towards greater efficiency, accessibility, and personalization of care. Its main output will not only be a new application or technical solution, but a comprehensive ecosystem that defines standards, evaluation methods, and reimbursement mechanisms for telemedicine in the Czech Republic.

Legislative basis and evaluation methodology?

Telemedicine health services are currently enshrined in the Health Services Act. There is currently intense debate about establishing reimbursement mechanisms. At the same time, a framework is being prepared for future methodologies for the clinical and economic evaluation of telemedicine interventions based primarily on the remote use of various medical devices, including software.

Author: Jakub Král