Digital Health in Mexico: Overcoming Telemedicine Challenges

The date was Sept. 8, 2020. Everyone globally was extremely preoccupied with their health as the world endured what might have been the worst health crisis in the last century. You would think a pandemic, when no one was allowed to leave their homes, would be just the kick health systems needed to take digital health and telemedicine seriously, but that was not the case in Mexico.

The digital transformation of healthcare is accelerating, with the online health market poised for explosive growth. Valued at nearly ****US$1,600 in 2024 [1]****, projections from an IMARC report indicate a remarkable 23% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) by 2033. This impressive forecast is underpinned by a substantial surge in the adoption of digital health solutions. Radar Healthtech 2023 data reveals a dramatic increase in key indicators since 2018: teleconsultations have quadrupled, while digital prescriptions have seen a 3.5-fold rise. This upward trend highlights a growing comfort and reliance on remote healthcare services among consumers and providers alike.

Despite this rapid expansion and the clear market potential, the telemedicine sector remains fragmented, notably lacking a single dominant major player. This presents a unique landscape for innovation and competition, as numerous companies race for market share, offering diverse solutions ranging from virtual doctor visits and remote monitoring to digital therapeutics and AI-powered diagnostic tools. The absence of a market leader suggests that the industry is still in a relatively early stage of maturity, with significant opportunities for consolidation, strategic partnerships, and the emergence of new, disruptive business models.

Telemedicine Adoption: Key Components Required

Electronic Medical Record: Telemedicine heavily relies on a robust Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. The adoption of an EMR not only ensures compliance with medical regulations, such as Mexico's NOM-004-SSA3-2012, but also provides physicians with clear, sequential guidance on patient progress.

Integration: For consistent usage, telemedicine systems, whether private or public, must be integrated directly into physicians' and patients' existing environments. Implementing an external or separate solution poses a significant risk to its adoption and consistent use.

Regulation: Emerging telemedicine regulations exist, but a strong compliance framework is essential for widespread and proper adoption.

Current Limitations

While numerous factors contribute to the current limitations in telemedicine adoption, I will focus on three primary considerations.

Lack of infrastructure and connectivity: Telemedicine, while offering a convenient avenue for medical services, cannot achieve its transformative potential without a robust and universally accessible internet infrastructure. Its true value lies in bridging geographical divides, particularly in extending the reach of highly specialized medical practitioners to underserved non-urban areas. Without reliable broadband connectivity, the promise of telemedicine to democratize healthcare access and alleviate the burden on urban medical centers remains largely unfulfilled, relegating it to a mere supplementary option rather than a fundamental solution for equitable healthcare delivery.

Lack of regulatory frameworks: Telemedicine adoption in Mexico faces significant hurdles, primarily due to the lack of comprehensive regulatory frameworks specifically designed for digital health. While there have been ongoing discussions and some initial efforts, the development of robust legislation in this critical area appears to be in its really early stages. This regulatory void creates uncertainty for healthcare providers, technology developers, and patients alike, hindering the widespread and secure implementation of telemedicine services.

The absence of clear guidelines impacts various aspects of telemedicine, including data privacy and security, licensing and credentialing for healthcare professionals offering virtual consultations, prescribing regulations for remote care, and reimbursement models. Without a standardized legal framework, there's a risk of fragmented approaches, potential patient safety concerns, and an inability to fully leverage the benefits of digital health technologies to improve healthcare access and efficiency across the country. Addressing this regulatory gap is crucial for unlocking the full potential of telemedicine in Mexico.

Lack of standardization in digital medical practice:  Telemedicine can only reach its full potential when supported by ongoing efforts to create and optimize practice standards for both patients and doctors, building upon established clinical practice guides and medical education in digital health and medicine.

What if the telemedicine approach needs to start in different areas?

While preparing this article, I could not help but notice that telemedicine adoption has been managed to be successfully applied in different environments; some of them controlled or with specific variables that allow it to happen effectively.

MiSalud, founded by Bismarck Lepe, provides a compelling example of successful digital healthcare. Its B2B model offered bilingual medical guidance specifically for farmworkers, achieving remarkable adoption rates. An article in California Healthline, "App helps California farmworkers visit with Mexican doctors," reported that out of 6,400 employees at Taylor Farms where MiSalud was available, 5,600 enrolled and 2,300 utilized the service at least once.

Whether telemedicine’s growing adoption in Mexico is driven by startups offering B2B services, insurtech companies with a deep understanding of Mexican culture, or private industry collaborating with the public health system, one thing remains clear: telemedicine still represents a significant opportunity in our country, one that has yet to be fully realized.