ADHC - mHealth is a Healthy Market In "Global Mo

ADHC - mHealth is a Healthy Market

In "Global Mobile Health Application Market 2011-2015", forecasts for global mobile health applications expect the market to grow at a CAGR of 40.4% through 2015. One of the key factors contributing to this market growth is increasing adoption of smartphones and social networking sites. The Global Mobile Health Application market has also been witnessing the increasing development of new healthcare applications. However, the low penetration of smartphones and broadband in rural and semi-urban areas could pose a challenge to the growth of this market.

According to a new study, the market for mHealth services has now entered the commercialization phase and will reach $26 billion globally by 2017. Smartphone applications have begun to enable the mHealth industry to successfully monetize their services, says the new Global Mobile Health Market Report 2013-2017, by research2guidance.

Research findings indicate that the long-expected mobile revolution in healthcare is set to happen. Both healthcare providers and consumers are embracing smartphones as a means to improving healthcare. Top mHealth publishers manage to generate more than 3 million free and 300,000 paid downloads in the United States on the iOS platform. The reach on other platforms and in other countries differs a lot but shows also the increase of business potential for mHealth apps.

Not only are consumers taking advantage of smartphones to manage and improve their own health, but also healthcare professionals. A significant number (15%) of mHealth applications are primarily designed for healthcare professionals. These include CME (Continued Medical Education), remote monitoring and healthcare management applications.

Currently there are 97,000 mHealth applications in major app stores, 42% of them adhering to the paid business model. With more and more traditional healthcare providers joining the mobile applications market, the business models will broaden to include healthcare services, sensor, and advertising and drug sales revenues.