While telehealth uptake is increasing among people living with HIV and at-risk individuals in Asia-Pacific, concerns over data privacy and lack of in-person support are still keeping most of them from getting fully on board with online sexual health services, according to a recent survey report backed by global biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences.

FINDINGS

Conducted by Cerner Enviza from June to September this year, the survey gathered responses from around 1,500 participants (787 PLHIV and 744 at-risk individuals) across nine APAC markets, including Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

This report followed another Gilead-backed study in 2020 which found that over half of PLHIVs and 64% of at-risk individuals in APAC have no access to telehealth services.

The present survey found that more than half of both PLHIV and at-risk individuals in the region have now increased their uptake of telehealth services over the past year, especially those from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

According to the report, this upturn in telehealth usage is due to the widespread availability of new online sexual health services during the pandemic. Respondents said that convenience, flexibility, and improved access to additional HIV information were their top three reasons for choosing telehealth. 

Despite their greater usage, nearly half of PLHIV and a third of at-risk individuals polled still raised major concerns about data privacy in telehealth. Almost half of at-risk individuals also said they felt uncomfortable about the lack of in-person support when using telehealth services. 

Still, one in three respondents trusted the online services offered by their healthcare providers and local HIV community groups more than other HIV care services. 

WHY IT MATTERS

Given the growing adoption of virtual healthcare services, telehealth providers have the opportunity now to tailor their services to really meet patients' needs, said Dr Julian Ng, deputy CEO of DTAP Clinic, a Singapore-based chain of sexual health clinics.

"If telehealth use is going to remain high beyond the COVID-19 crisis, we need to ensure equity of access," Caroline Choi, Senior Director and Medical Affairs Asia 5 Lead at Gilead Sciences, added.

"Not only do [healthcare providers] and community-based organisations need to implement innovative forms of care, such as providing e-prescriptions but healthcare systems must also adapt to the needs of patients when modernising HIV services," she further said.

THE LARGER TREND

The general concern over data privacy when it comes to telehealth may be attributed to the recent spike in cyber incidents in healthcare. There had been an instance where confidential information of about 14,200 PLHIV and 2,400 contacts in Singapore had been leaked online. 

In other related news, Kenya's first online pharmacy MYDAWA is starting a new telehealth service for those seeking access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, a medication taken by those at risk of contracting HIV. 

ON THE RECORD

"The pandemic has ushered in confidence for the public to be an active participant in managing their own health. In the context of HIV, telehealth services that have been endorsed and approved by relevant authorities may provide additional support to existing services to retain PLHIV in care," Sumita Banerjee, executive director of Action for AIDS Singapore, commented on the latest survey report.