Are virtual healthcare services the next must-have for expatriates?

A recent survey indicates that virtual healthcare services are deemed the best by an average of almost 80 per cent of respondents.

The survey, initiated by a well-known healthcare provider, attempted to discover which aspects of relocation overseas have the worst effect on expatriates’ wellbeing and health. Perhaps the most interesting result was that some 78 per cent of the 2,000 respondents would be happy to use virtual health services rather than taking themselves off to the nearest private healthcare facility. The highest score by country went to Singapore, with 92 per cent saying they were more likely to use virtual health services.

iThe trend continued, with 90 per cent of expats in the UAE and India voting for the service, and younger expats are leading it well ahead of their older compatriots, as are expats with families in the chosen location. One reason for the popularity of virtual health services is the far lower cost of getting a diagnosis and relevant advice on treatment than in private hospitals across the entire span of expatriate destinations. Another is that it saves time, avoiding having to make appointments and waiting a long time to be seen in a conventional hospital.

Singapore’s version of virtual health services is popular with expats for its immediacy as regards advice and diagnoses of non-life threatening illnesses. In addition, as most services are multi-lingual, the stress of trying to explain symptoms in an unfamiliar language isn’t a problem. Overall, the service is something of a new arrival on the expat scene, but is certain to become a more than satisfactory solution for the many aspects of private medical services which expats find inconvenient, unsuitable and far too expensive.