Pierre Bentata is an economist, lecturer at Aix-Marseille University, author of the study “The use of teleconsultation and tele-expertise: what economic impact can we expect in France? » for the Molinari Economic Institute, published in January 2022.
In 2022, you have estimated the savings that could be generated each year in France by practicing teleconsultations and tele-expertise more widely at 1 billion euros…
Yes, and this figure is rather a low range, because we wanted to remain realistic and respectful of a quality care pathway. Our calculations were made 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 devote more than 20% of their activity remotely. This ceiling seems arbitrary to us and, in my opinion, deserves to be lifted. A meta-analysis of experiences carried out abroad and transposable to France showed us that with constant quality of care, the practice generates substantial savings. While current health expenditure represents 11.3% of GDP in France, compared to 9.9% on average in the countries of the European Union, greater use of teleconsultation could constitute one solution among others to bring closer France of the European average.
What are the savings you calculated?
First of all, there are travel savings. Consulting remotely means avoiding kilometers, fuel costs, transport costs, and wasted time too. By constituting a first resort, teleconsultation also makes it possible to avoid a return trip to the emergency room, which relieves congestion in already saturated services. This also allows you to consult more quickly, and early treatment can prevent the worsening of certain pathologies. Tele-expertise, which allows a doctor to request the expertise of a colleague remotely for a patient, can also limit unnecessary visits to a specialist. Finally, beyond the financial aspect, there is a reduction in certain psychological costs: when face-to-face consultation risks being tiring, in psychiatry in particular, going through the screen can make things more comfortable.
How do you see the future of teleconsultation?
Digital technology will play an increasingly important role in our lives, and we ourselves, whatever our age, will become more and more comfortable with this tool. It is obvious that teleconsultation will not be the alpha and omega of medical practice, but it will represent an additional means to treat and this development seems inevitable to me. This is less stress for the patient, and easier to manage for doctors.