More Work Needed on 3G Healthcare Applications
Wireless Healthcare, the Cambridge UK based ehealth consultancy, has suggested that a special interest group is formed to develop and exploit healthcare applications for 3G networks.
Cambridge, UK (PRWEB) September 7, 2004 -- Wireless Healthcare, the Cambridge
UK based ehealth consultancy, has suggested that a special interest group is
formed to develop and exploit healthcare applications for 3G networks.
In a recently published white paper Wireless Healthcare lists some of
the problems specialist ehealth vendors encounter when they attempt to market
products and services in the UK. The paper points out that the NHS's National
Programme for IT (NPfIT) has had a radical impact on the ehealth market. Niche
vendors have seen their evangelistic early adopters within the NHS replaced by
risk adverse Application Service Providers (ASPs). Wireless Healthcare suggests
that an alliance of ehealth vendors could produce bundles of proven
applications. As these bundles would require minimal integration by ASPs they
would have greater appeal than a selection of individual products. An alliance
of vendors would also find it easier to negotiate with the companies that have
already won contracts to supply the NHS with IT infrastructure.
Wireless
Healthcare believes an organisation such as Cambridge 3G would provide an ideal
vehicle for an ehealth special interest group. The company suggests that
Cambridge 3G's test network could be used to prove applications and increase
awareness of the potential of 3G as an ehealth communications platform. It could
also help resolve key technical issues relating to the use of mobile packet
networks for mission critical applications.
Wireless Healthcare feels
that an ehealth special interest group would also attract members from outside
the IT and communications community. "We have already seen pharmaceutical,
biotechnology and IT companies come together to develop home testing kits for
diabetes sufferers." Explains Peter Kruger, Senior Analyst with Wireless
Healthcare. "There is no reason why companies who provide dietary information
and health screening services cannot work with communications hardware and
software vendors to produce 3G based ehealth services."
The paper also
notes that companies are finding it increasingly difficult to finance ehealth
projects – in part due to subtle changes in the way the EU funds projects and
the political turmoil surrounding the future of the Department of Trade and
Industry. Wireless Healthcare believes that an alliance of companies might find
it easier to attract grants and funding.
Wireless Healthcare is a UK
based consultancy specialising in mobile healthcare and ehealth. It has recently
published the Wireless Healthcare 2004 report - a comprehensive review of the
market for wireless based ehealth products and services.
The white paper
"Wireless eHealth and the NPfIT" can be downloaded from www.wirelesshealthcare.co.uk
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/9/prweb155583.htm