As early as 2015, the State Council issued the “Guiding Opinions on Actively Promoting “Internet + “Actions”, requiring the promotion of new online medical and health models, and actively using the mobile Internet to provide online appointments for diagnosis and treatment, waiting reminders, price payment, diagnosis and treatment report inquiries, and medicines Convenient services such as distribution.
On April 28, 2018, the General Office of the State Council issued the “Opinions on Promoting the Development of “Internet + Medical Health”. Encourage medical institutions to use Internet technology to expand the space and content of medical services, build an integrated online and offline medical service model that covers pre-diagnosis, during and after diagnosis, and allow online re-diagnosis of some common diseases and chronic diseases; allow online prescription of some common diseases, Prescriptions for chronic diseases; allow the development of Internet hospitals relying on medical institutions.
On September 14, 2018, the National Health Commission and the Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine issued the “Notice on Issuing 3 Documents including Internet Diagnosis and Treatment Management Measures (Trial)”, including “Internet Diagnosis and Treatment Management Measures (Trial)” and “Internet Hospital Management Measures (Trial)” and “Management Standards for Telemedicine Services (Trial)” specify which diagnosis and treatment can be put online, mainly diagnosis and treatment of common diseases, follow-up diagnosis of chronic diseases, etc., and no diagnosis and treatment of first-diagnosed patients.
On August 30, 2019, the National Medical Insurance Administration issued the “Guiding Opinions on Improving “Internet +” Medical Service Prices and Medical Insurance Payment Policies.” If the “Internet +” medical services provided by clearly defined medical institutions are the same as offline medical services within the scope of medical insurance payment, and the corresponding public medical institutions charge prices, they will be included in the medical insurance payment scope after the corresponding filing procedures and paid according to regulations .
Entering 2020, the sudden new crown epidemic has largely catalyzed the popularization of Internet medical care, especially online consultation. Many hospitals and Internet health platforms have launched online medical services. During the critical period of epidemic prevention and control, through the follow-up visits, prescription renewal, drug purchase, and distribution services provided by the Internet medical platform, the problem of renewing prescription drugs for hundreds of millions of chronic disease groups was eased. The notion of “small illnesses and common diseases, don’t rush to the hospital, go online first” has gradually penetrated into the general public perception.
With the increase in market demand, the state has also given stronger support in terms of policies.
On February 7, the General Office of the National Health Commission issued guidance on the implementation of “Internet +” medical insurance services during the prevention and control of the new crown pneumonia epidemic.
On February 21, the National Health Commission issued the “Notice on the National Telemedicine and Internet Medical Center for National Remote Consultation Work for Severe and Critical Patients with New Coronary Pneumonia”
On March 2, the National Medical Insurance Bureau and the National Health Commission jointly issued the “Guiding Opinions on the Development of “Internet +” Medical Insurance Services”, which put forward two key points: Internet diagnosis and treatment are included in medical insurance; electronic prescriptions enjoy medical insurance payment benefits. The “Opinions” clarified that Internet hospitals that meet the requirements to provide insured persons with “Internet +” follow-up services for common and chronic diseases can be included in the medical insurance fund payment scope in accordance with regulations. The medical insurance fee and medical expenses will be settled online, and the insured person can pay the part.
On March 5, the “Opinions on Deepening the Reform of the Medical Security System” was announced. The document mentioned supporting the development of new service models such as “Internet + Medical”.
On May 8, the General Office of the National Health Commission issued a notice on further promoting the development and standardized management of Internet medical services.
On May 13, the National Health Commission issued a notice on the technical specifications and financial management of the “Internet Medical Service” project in public medical institutions.
The “Opinions” issued by 13 departments further standardize the promotion of chronic disease Internet follow-up diagnosis, telemedicine, Internet health consultation and other models; support the coordinated development of the platform in the fields of medical treatment, health management, elderly care and health, and cultivate healthy consumption habits; encourage online drug purchase Intelligent upgrading of products and business model innovation in other fields.
It is foreseeable that, driven by the promulgation of favorable national policies and actual demand, the Internet medical industry is developing rapidly, and it has gradually attracted more and more consumers’ attention. The popularization of Internet medical care is indeed visible in the value of improving the efficiency of medical resource utilization. I believe that with the further support and encouragement of the country, Internet medical care will surely usher in the trend of development in the future.
Post time: Oct-19-2020