Survey on the willingness to pay for tele-health consultation

• Published in: Health policy and technology Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 248 - 253
• Main Authors: Suzuki, Teppei, Abe, Tamotsu, Tsuji, Shintaro, Shimoda, Tomoko, Yoshimura, Sadako, Ogasawara, Katsuhiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2019
• Subjects: Drugstore; Information and communication technology; Tele-health consultation; Willingness to pay; Tele-health consultation; Information and communication technology; Drugstore; Willingness to pay
• ISSN: 2211-8837; 2211-8845
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2019.07.004

•Survey of WTP about tele-health consultation system was conducted on 480 residences of Hokkaido.•The WTP fee for using the tele-health consultation system for 10 min was calculated using a Double-Bounded Dichotomous Choice and the Random Utility Logit Model.•The median and average amount for the WTP fee of using the tele-health consultation system for 10 min was 367 JPY(3.3USD) and 495 JPY(4.4USD), respectively.•WTP fee tends to be higher when the factors are present, namely, intention to use the service. We previously conducted a survey on users of tele-health consultations system to investigate their willingness to pay (WTP). To assess the economic value of the tele-health system, we need to investigate the demand and value of the tele-health in another way. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to submit basic information to create a sustainable business model and to investigate the economic value of the tele-health consultation system. The 480 respondents were instructed to assume an environment where a tele-health consultation system is implemented in a region with no prior experience with such a service. This study adopted a Contingent Valuation Method to measure the demand and value of tele-health. A WTP fee for using the tele-health consultation system for 10 min was calculated using a Double-Bounded Dichotomous Choice and a Random Utility Logit Model. The median and average amount of the WTP fee for using the tele-health consultation system for 10 min was ¥ 367 (US$ 3.30) and ¥ 495 (US$ 4.40) respectively. Further analysis indicates that the WTP fee tends to be higher when a certain factor is present, namely, intention to use the service. To gather basic information concerning the economic value of the tele-health consultation system, we clarified the appropriate WTP fee and the factors leading to a higher WTP fee. In future research, we will conduct follow-up research and consider adding more information concerning the advantages and limitations of implementing remote health consulting to build a clearer scenario.