COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS OF TELEMEDICINE

There are a number of different costs associated with the development and operation of telemedicine services. A model is proposed in order t o assist in strengthening the evidence base for telemedicine. It inclu des the following components: project establishment costs; equipment c osts; maintenance costs; communication costs; staffing costs. All need to be considered in arriving at an annual cost figure for operating a telemedicine service. The inclusion of all these costs, prepared in t he standard manner outlined in the model, will ensure that a realistic cost figure is available when evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a telemedicine service.