Telemedicine in the Czech Republic: From “Telephone Consultations” to a Systemic Solution

Just a few years ago, we would have considered any remote contact between a patient and a doctor via phone or video to be telemedicine. A major turning point in the Czech healthcare system came with the mandatory use of eRecept (e-prescriptions) and, subsequently, the COVID-19 pandemic. Fear of personal contact at that time accelerated the introduction of the first reimbursed “telemedicine” service by general practitioners. Today, however, we no longer consider the standard remote provision of services to be sufficiently appealing. Both the medical community and patients now expect the integration of sophisticated high-tech solutions, ideally utilizing elements of artificial intelligence (AI).

In recent years, telemedicine devices have appeared on the market that enable comprehensive remote examinations—from CRP measurements to throat imaging. However, these technologies were initially ahead of their time. The low level of interest among providers and patients was often simply attributed to a lack of insurance coverage. It turned out, however, that simply implementing technologies “from elsewhere” without a well-thought-out integration into the overall system framework does not work.

The government is aware of this challenge and supports the development of telemedicine to ensure greater access to care and more efficient use of healthcare professionals. It presents a functional tool for addressing personnel shortages. To achieve this goal, the Ministry of Health is basing its efforts on the extensive project at the Olomouc University Hospital. As explained in an article in last year’s October Newsletter, its main benefit is not the development of another application, but the creation of a sustainable ecosystem that will propel us to the forefront of Europe.

Telemedicines Pillars of Success

Legislative frameworks alone are not sufficient to achieve this goal. Based on experience, the following key success factors can be identified:

• Compliance with the MDR and IVDR: Connected technologies must strictly comply with the relevant EU regulations.

• Data storage and security: It must be clear who will invest in and operate the systems and bear full responsibility for protecting patients’ personal data.

• Communication interfaces: Secure standards must be defined for connecting technologies and for third-party access (patients, external providers).

• Lege artis clinical procedures: Procedures must be endorsed by professional society, and sources for formal documentation must be established.

• Reimbursement mechanisms: It is necessary to clearly define what will be reimbursed per-procedure, what will be covered by a prescription, and what will be classified as ZUM. This is also linked to requirements for clinical-economic data.

Given the work being done in these areas, the outlook is optimistic. For suppliers and manufacturers, monitoring this segment is critical, even if they currently have nothing “telemedicine-related” in their portfolio as telemedicine is fundamentally transforming established forms of care and the entire market.

Author: Markéta Hrubá