Monfort-Vinuesa C., et al.
nition and evaluation of trials (what to measure, how to meas-ure),
what cases to prioritize to avoid fragmentation and in the
assessment of the costs involved.
The technology evolution and the increased literacy of
both patients and physicians in technological devices will
decrease costs and other barriers to adoption (unawareness,
training). However, policy makers also need to contribute to
the decrease of barriers related to privacy, reimbursement and
certification.
As a closing note, regardless of the cost considerations, it is
a fact that more doctors are required, both in developing coun-tries,
where physician density is very low, and in developed coun-tries,
where population aging increases medical needs. Specifical-ly
in this latter case, existing research has been inconclusive given
it has focused more on breadth than depth limiting the relevance
of the findings (48). The WHO (49) in 2016 concluded that by
2030, there would be a shortage of 2.3 Mn physicians globally
(and a total shortage of 14.5Mn health professionals). Finding
ways to expand the reach of the existing physicians either by en-abling
them to monitor more patients simultaneously, coach oth-er
physicians, leverage adjacent professionals or reducing their
travel time as long as patient risks are not increased seems worth
investing.
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