Singapore's healthcare system is grappling with a rapidly aging population facing an increasing prevalence of chronic disease. Telemedicine, a potentially cost-effective alternative for healthcare delivery is particularly relevant for Singapore's aging population facing escalating healthcare demands. However, despite its growing adoption, robust evidence on its cost-effectiveness for elderly in Singapore remains limited. A systematic review was conducted on PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library surrounding keywords "telemedicine," “telehealth”, “cost-effectiveness”, “elderly”, “older adults” and “Singapore”. Studies published in English from 2014-2024 were included if they focused on telemedicine and elderly populations in Singapore. Included studies were analyzed for methodology, sample size, data collection methods, and key findings. The literature search yielded 9 included studies. Telemedicine presents a significant economic advantage for the elderly, a population often burdened with chronic conditions and mobility issues. The majority of studies demonstrate cost-effectiveness, particularly for screening and managing chronic diseases, providing direct savings for both patients and the healthcare system. However, cost reduction can be undermined if the service merely redirects resources instead of reducing them, such as when frequent teleconsultations with allied practitioners end up increasing the total number of visits and associated costs. Ultimately, while the reviewed literature points to telemedicine as a cost-effective tool for Singapore's elderly, the evidence base is critically weak. There remains a lack of long-term data and direct comparisons to in-person care. Future research must be more rigorous and comprehensive to ensure that telemedicine can be sustainably and equitably integrated into Singapore's primary care system.

Authors:
Cheryl Chong, National University Health System, Singapore
Ray Chong Junrui, National University Singapore, Singapore
Jonathan Chng Jia Hao, National University Health System, Singapore

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Cheryl Chong is currently a Preventive Medicine resident in Singapore. She is interested in Telemedicine and the benefits that it brings to the elderly population, for both the patient and the healthcare system.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-chong-zhiya/

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