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- Closer to the body: the demand for telemedicine consultations has increased one and a half times
Closer to the body: the demand for telemedicine consultations has increased one and a half times
In Russia, the demand for telemedicine consultations has increased by 48% in six months compared to the same period last year, market participants told Izvestia. Such consultations with geneticists, gastroenterologists, allergists, endocrinologists and psychologists are especially popular. However, during online meetings, the doctor may not notice serious pathologies in the patient, which will lead to a significant deterioration in the condition, experts noted. About why the demand for remote consultations has increased and what are their disadvantages so far, see the Izvestia article.
Who is most often referred to
The demand for telemedicine services in Russia in January–June 2025 increased by 48% compared to the same period last year, the Sberbank Health medical company told Izvestia.
In the first six months of 2025, Russians most often turned online to psychologists, gynecologists, dermatologists, internists, and neurologists.
"The increase in demand for consultations with a psychologist in January–June 2025, compared with the same period last year, amounted to 100%, to a gynecologist and a dermatologist — 33% each, to a therapist on duty — 42%, to a neurologist — 38%," the company said.
The TelMEdDoc telemedicine service told Izvestia that in the first half of 2025, the volume of consultations doubled compared to the same period last year.
"This is due to the growth of telemedicine consultations at clinics and the involvement of new medical organizations that had not previously provided such services," added Mikhail Ramzaev, head of telemedicine projects at the service.
According to him, there is traditionally a high demand for telemedicine consultations from psychologists, obstetricians and gynecologists, reproductive specialists and pediatricians.
In 2025, doctors consulted almost 12 thousand patients using telemedicine technologies, and in the past — about 8 thousand, which is one and a half times more than a year earlier, Konstantin Letts-Orletsov, head of the Virtual Clinic project at Ingosstrakh, told Izvestia. Gynecologists, endocrinologists, urologists, gastroenterologists and nutritionists are most in demand. Remote psychological assistance also continues to be popular.
The number of telemedicine consultations conducted at the Hemotest laboratory increased by 6%. The largest increase was recorded in the field of "genetics" — plus 232%.
"The increased demand for consultations with geneticists suggests that people no longer perceive genetic research as something inaccessible and incomprehensible," said Ekaterina Demyanovskaya, the company's doctor.
She clarified that many laboratories offer genetic tests that help detect the hereditary risks of many diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Also, with the help of such studies, you can learn about the increased likelihood of developing certain malignant tumors and other genetically determined pathology. Such studies are also in great demand among couples who are preparing to become parents.
What are the disadvantages of telemedicine?
Making a diagnosis, prescribing treatment and prescribing prescriptions should take place only after personal, physical contact with the patient, Maria Uyanaeva, chief physician of the UNI Clinic Medical Center, told Izvestia. During an online consultation, it is impossible to determine exactly what a person is sick with, and you can skip, for example, pneumonia, and this can lead to death, confirmed by doctor Pavel Khoroshev.
— Telemedicine consultations are possible only for those services that are licensed by a medical organization. With online consultation without initial treatment, the doctor can only recommend some kind of examination to the patient and then invite him to a face-to-face appointment," Maria Uyanaeva reminded.
Telemedicine is under no circumstances suitable for conditions where emergency care is required, Pavel Khoroshev added. According to him, we are talking, for example, about serious injuries, heart attack or stroke.
He noted that the diagnosis of many pathologies requires tests and hardware studies that cannot be carried out remotely.
It is also impossible to conduct a full-fledged physical examination remotely, Pavel Khoroshev emphasized. For example, not to measure blood pressure, not to perform palpation or auscultation (listening to sounds formed during the functioning of internal organs. — Izvestia).
Oncologist Igor Utyashev noted that it is impossible to diagnose cancer remotely, as a lot of research needs to be done. According to him, it is impossible to remotely track the size of the tumor and how it reacts to a particular therapy.
Endocrinologist and nutritionist Alexey Kalinchev emphasized that patients with diabetes mellitus need face-to-face consultations with a doctor. Otherwise, according to him, there is a risk of amputation of limbs or falling into a coma.
Why has the demand for telemedicine increased?
Telemedicine consultations can dramatically save time on a visit to the doctor. Their use is justified when you need to clarify something, verify something, or, conversely, dispel any suspicions, Nikolai Bespalov, director of development at RNC Pharma, an analytical company, told Izvestia.
— The question, which in reality takes several minutes during a face—to-face visit to the clinic, may take several hours, taking into account the road and waiting for an appointment, and this is also subject to availability of places for an appointment, - he explained.
According to him, the growing demand for telemedicine consultations is due to the fact that there is now a heavy burden on the healthcare system, and their use makes it possible to significantly relieve it.
Alyona Parshina, a general practitioner at Sberbank, confirmed that telemedicine consultations make the doctor's work easier.
—The development of telemedicine helps to reduce the burden on the primary care unit of polyclinics, as well as minimizes the spread of viral infections due to a reduction in the number of contacts in medical institutions," she said.
Telemedicine gives patients the opportunity to quickly and effectively solve some health—related issues, such as those that do not require a face-to-face examination, and when the doctor relies heavily on data from past appointments and laboratory tests, Ekaterina Demyanovskaya added.
— Without leaving home, you can contact your doctor at a convenient time, ask clarifying questions, discuss treatment tactics and the dosage of previously prescribed medications when diagnosed, tell about changes in your well—being and get relevant recommendations, - she said.
Telemedicine consultations are suitable for prevention, collection, analysis of patient complaints and medical history data, assessment of the effectiveness of therapeutic and diagnostic measures, medical monitoring of the patient's health, as well as for deciding whether to conduct an in-person appointment, the expert emphasized.
For example, according to her, online consultations can analyze the results of tests and get recommendations for further examination, adjust the diet, which is especially important for patients of gastroenterologists, endocrinologists and nutritionists.
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