Thanks to the derogatory development during the COVID-19, telemedicine in France is better legally regulated and more accessible

Abstract

Telemedicine has existed since the 1980s and puts a patient in contact with a doctor or health professional at a distance who exchanges digital data using computer tools. The Ordre des Médecins considers that new technologies facilitate access to care and specialised expertise, even if it goes against fundamental ethical principles. It is a substitute for the traditional medical act, and one must question its relevance and whether the conditions of implementation bring a benefit to the patient.During the Covid-19 epidemic, the conditions for telemedicine were relaxed and the health insurance system facilitated its reimbursement in a derogatory manner. Healthcare professionals, healthcare institutions and patients were able to appreciate the new possibilities offered by telemedicine and recognize its limitations. However, safety is not the main concern of patients, who make extensive use of IT tools to surf the Internet and consider remote medicine as an easily accessible exercise without knowing its limits. They do not distinguish between medically supervised clinical telemedicine and e-health services offered over the Internet, which are commercial wellness offerings. In this presentation, we will first describe the evolution of telemedicine, which has long been implemented in France in various forms, and then the spectacular development of teleconsultations during the COVID-19 epidemic, the beneficial consequences of which allow better accessibility and reimbursement by social security.