Telemedicine use surges to 11 million cases led by dermatology consultations

Telemedicine cases in Korea have reached 11 million this year, with dermatological conditions accounting for the largest share of consultations. Pediatrics has also seen a steady increase in telemedicine usage, highlighting its growing acceptance among patients and caregivers.

The Korea Telemedicine Industry Council (KTIC) released its 2024 Telemedicine Usage Survey on Monday, providing insights into how telemedicine is utilized nationwide.

The report revealed that dermatological issues, including acne, atopic dermatitis, and rashes, represented 22 percent of all telemedicine cases. Mild conditions such as colds and rhinitis followed at 16 percent, hair loss at 12 percent, chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension at 10 percent, gynecological issues such as menopausal symptom management at 7 percent, pediatric consultations at 6 percent, and requests for artificial tears at 4 percent.

An overwhelming 96.9 percent of respondents expressed their willingness to continue using telemedicine in the future.

Notably, pediatric telemedicine services showed consistent growth and the highest levels of patient satisfaction.

“Factors such as the nature of pediatric illnesses, which can occur around the clock, and the necessity of caregiver accompaniment played a role,” a KTIC official said.

The data also pointed to seasonal fluctuations in telemedicine usage, with peaks during transitional seasons in March-April and September-October, when conditions like colds and allergic rhinitis are more prevalent. Usage also increased during the summer vacation months of July and August.

Despite its growing popularity, KTIC highlighted significant challenges telemedicine users face, including excessive regulations.

The council’s report noted that patients often travel an average of 4.77 kilometers to pick up medications prescribed during holiday or nighttime telemedicine consultations, with wait times exceeding 10 hours.

“Over the past four years, we’ve gathered extensive medical data through pilot programs and demonstration projects,” KITC Co-char Lee Seul said. “We hope 2025 will mark the beginning of telemedicine’s formal integration, improving healthcare accessibility for all.”