Trends in Telemedicine in Japan and Australia

Abstract

In the wake of Covid-19, many countries have adopted telemedicine for an increasing array of health care services. The legal and institutional changes related to telemedicine in these countries provide insights into how Korea should progress in this area. In Japan, for instance, the government had begun considering ways to implement telemedicine as an evidence-based policy years before the pandemic, involving various perspectives. That Japan’s adoption of telemedicine has been achieved stepwise through discussions and verifications with stakeholders, including the medical profession, holds particular significance for Korea. Australia’s case is distinct in that it involves the lifting of all telemedicine restrictions previously placed on non-remote areas and the promotion of primary care telehealth services. However, more relevant to policymaking in Korea is the detailed amendment made to Australia’s Medicare Benefits Schedule that ensures reimbursement for telehealth based on the type of service delivered and the type of medical professional providing it. With its recently announced pilot projects and supplementary measures, Korea is on track to pursue efficient telemedicine policies incorporating technology and advances in healthcare. As this does not differ in direction from the paths along which Japan and Australia have steered their telemedicine adoption with the goal of improving people’s health, these countries can offer valuable insights for Korea’s telemedicine policymaking.