Terence Cheng, Monash University:The Economics of Internet Health Marketplaces

Title: The Economics of Internet Health Marketplaces: Insights from China

Abstract: The adoption of digital technologies in health care has accelerated significantly in many countries over the past two years, as the COVID-19 pandemic prompted health care providers to switch to virtual care options. Over the past decade, China's internet health care market has expanded considerably, underpinned by the government's vision and commitment to developing an internet health ecosystem to address longstanding problems in the health system. In this seminar, I will introduce China’s internet health care marketplace, with an emphasis on the market for direct-to-consumer telemedicine services. Three characteristics distinguish the internet health marketplace from traditional physical markets for health care: the role of platforms as intermediaries; public hospital doctors engaging in online-offline dual practice; and patients’ choice and search behaviours in a digital health market. Throughout the talk, I will draw on insights from newly published research and ongoing work. I will conclude with a discussion of the challenges and issues in the market; the need for, and scope of,  government regulation, and lay down some emerging themes for future research.

Presenter:  Terence Cheng, Centre for Health Economics, Monash University

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