According to new data out from Juniper Research, it’s now estimated that more than 44 million mobile health apps will be downloaded in 2012, growing to more than 142 million by 2016.
According to the research, a majority of the growth will be triggered by the release of FDA regulations on which types of mobile health apps require agency approval; efforts to realize cost savings through remote patient monitoring; and the development of more consumer-focused applications. “Acceptance of new healthcare practices like remote patient monitoring will come directly from consumers becoming engaged in [mobile health care] through the smartphone,” said Anthony Cox, an author of the report.
In addition, peripheral devices that attach to mobile phones — such as weight scales, blood pressure monitors and glucose meters — will “greatly extend the capabilities” of mobile health apps. While it’s good to see stronger adoption of mHealth apps — it’s still likely that a majority of these apps will be simple “health and fitness” apps that don’t possess the true potential of what mHealth apps of the future will be able to accomplish, like true remote monitoring for example. We’re still a ways away from wide spread development and adoption of advanced healthcare apps like this.