mhealth to become $26 billion industry by 2017

By the year 2017, mhealth would have become $26 billion industry according to HIFA 2015. In the report of its survey on ‘Infographic: Is Mobile Healthcare the Future?’, HIFA said this confirms the rising popularity of the industry.Currently, it said there are 97,000 health and fitness related mobile apps on Google Play and Apple App Store. It added that apps in this category records 4 million daily downloads.It said: “Mobile health, loosely defined as the practice of medicine and public health and supported by mobile devices, is projected to be a $26 billion industry by 2017. With more than 97,000 health and fitness related mobile apps currently on Google Play and Apple App Store, and 4 million downloads per day, it’s difficult to deny the rising popularity of the industry.”While there are currently tens of thousands of apps to promote weight loss and exercise, it said there is virtually none that empowers users to make healthcare decisions during critical conditions such as emergencies, trauma, illness, complication during pregnancy and delivery.

“Mobile health has not been adequately harnessed to save lives and reduce suffering,” the initiative said.
It however mentioned exceptional mobile apps such as HealthPhone and the Hesperian Safe Pregnancy and Bith App as rare exceptions to the rule.