The contribution of telecommunications and ICT in the evolution of medicine

Information and communication technologies (ICT) and next-generation networks combine the Internet with fixed and mobile broadband and ultra-broadband connections. More than half of humanity now has access to Internet applications. As the Internet of Things (IoMT) takes its first steps in the field of medicine, low-latency, high-speed and more secure wireline and radio networks are being introduced.

The medical world is changing rapidly before our very eyes, due to the increasing demography of senior citizens and a certain slowdown in the pace of innovation proposed by the drug industry. At the same time, governments in the developed world are giving their research centers and medical industries a major boost, particularly with a view to making the new "precision" medicine more effective.

ICTs offer an excellent opportunity to rationalize the organization of care management and demonstrate the economic profitability of the most appropriate structures and methods. Patient medical records (DMP) and pharmaceutical records (DP) are at the heart of this new management approach. In every country, the development of ICTs can help reduce healthcare costs while improving the quality of care systems. Thanks in particular to cloud computing and the potential of massive data, ICTs should make it possible to propose realistic solutions to the problems posed by access to healthcare for all and by ageing populations.

ICTs can rapidly help healthcare professionals to better assist patients and provide governments with accurate dashboards of citizens' health. This article provides a brief overview of the main healthcare applications and services available on networks and the Internet, and an insight into the potential benefits for patients.

In conclusion, the article reminds us that, like all open IT systems, healthcare information systems are sometimes the victims of various attacks. They need to respond effectively and cost-effectively to the various challenges they face, while preserving the integrity of information relating to patient privacy.