1. Case studies: online health and telemedicine Professor Peter C Smith Professor of Health Policy, Imperial College Business School, London

2. Online health information New possibilities for finding & exchanging health information Possible harms: –inaccurate information –misuse of personal information

3. Examples of recommendations Health websites should contain certain key details & seek accreditation from recognised schemes Governments should ensure high quality health info is available on the web Doctors should receive training and advice on caring for patients who use the internet to access health information

4. Online personal health records Public & private online health records emerging Allow users to access, integrate, update and share health records Potential harms: –misuse of stored information

5. Examples of recommendations Governments should set up accreditation schemes for online health record providers to improve transparency and standards Providers should give users information about data security and legal rights Responsible bodies should apply EU data protection legislation to online health records used by people in the EU

6. Buying medicines online Offers privacy and convenience But, can buy without prescription or illegal drugs from other countries Potential harms: –harmful, fake or low quality medicines –miss out on advice from professionals –increase in antibiotic resistance

7. Examples of recommendations GB registration scheme should be mirrored in other countries Government websites should provide information on the risks and identifying a registered pharmacy Doctors should receive training on caring for patients buying medicines online Governments worldwide should set regulations on the supply of antibiotics in their country

8. Telemedicine Potential to care for people in their home and increase equitable access to healthcare Could have positive impact in developing countries Potential harms: –damage to doctor-patient relationship –virtual brain drain

9. Examples of recommendations Telemedicine offered where it can feasibly and cost-effectively reduce healthcare inequities Impacts on doctor-patient relationship to be evaluated Telemedicine encouraged in developing countries where beneficial, cost-effective and sustainable Developed countries to monitor impacts of outsourcing healthcare services to developing countries via telemedicine, eg on ‘brain drain’