Pierre Bentata is an economist, lecturer at Aix-Marseille University and author of the study “The use of teleconsultation and teleexpertise: what economic impact can we expect in France?” » for the Molinari Economic Institute, published in January 2022.

In 2022, they estimate the savings that could be achieved in France each year through the wider use of teleconsultations and teleassessments at 1 billion euros.

Yes, and this number is rather low because we wanted to be realistic and respect a quality care pathway. Our calculations were based on the hypothesis that only the simplest procedures and only one-off procedures could be the subject of a teleconsultation. It is obvious that not all medical procedures are suitable for this, but in France today the practice is limited: doctors cannot carry out more than 20% of their work remotely. This cap seems arbitrary to us and, in my opinion, deserves to be lifted. A meta-analysis of experiences carried out abroad and transferable to France has shown us that the practice achieves significant savings while maintaining the quality of care. While current healthcare spending in France represents 11.3% of GDP, compared to an average of 9.9% in European Union countries, increased use of teleconsultations could be one solution among others to bring France closer to the European average.

What savings have you calculated?

First, there are travel savings. Remote advice means avoiding mileage, fuel costs, transportation costs and also wasted time. Since teleconsultation is a first resort, the trip back to the emergency room can also be avoided, which reduces the burden on services that are already at capacity. This also allows you to have a faster consultation and early treatment can prevent certain pathologies from worsening. Teleexpertise, which allows a doctor to request the expertise of a colleague remotely for a patient, can also reduce unnecessary visits to a specialist. Finally, beyond the financial aspect, there is a reduction in certain psychological costs: when face-to-face consultation can be tiring, especially in psychiatry, looking beyond the screen can make things more pleasant.

How do you see the future of teleconsultation?

Digital technology will play an increasingly important role in our lives and we ourselves, regardless of our age, will become more and more familiar with this tool. It is obvious that teleconsultation will not be the be-all and end-all of medical practice, but it will represent an additional tool and this development seems inevitable to me. This means less stress for the patient and is easier for doctors to manage.