Bridging the Gap: Digitalization’s Strategic Role in Healthcare to Address Current Gaps in Moldova Normative Decision‐Tree Cost and Patient‐Benefit Analysis of Traditional Primary Healthcare vs. Telemedicine Options in Urban and Rural Moldova
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2025-07-02
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en
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Abstract Thesis: "Bridging the Gap: Digitalization’s Strategic Role in Healthcare to Address Current Gaps in Moldova"
This study investigates the strategic role of digitalization in improving current healthcare deficiencies in Moldova. The research employs a normative decision-tree framework and cost-effectiveness analysis to compare messaging-based and platform-based telehealth pathways against traditional primary care in both rural and urban areas of Moldova. The analysis specifically focuses on patient-incurred costs, patient-perceived quality (satisfaction), and diagnostic accuracy for a "sick episode".
The findings reveal significant advantages for telemedicine over traditional primary care. In the base-case scenario, the Tele-Message modality emerged as strictly dominant, achieving improvements in perceived quality and diagnostic accuracy without incurring additional costs. The Tele-Platform modality was also found to be cost-effective, delivering meaningful gains in quality and accuracy at a modest incremental cost. Rural patients experienced larger absolute gains due to a higher initial prevalence of "No-Care" episodes, underscoring telemedicine's potential to address rural access disparities. Furthermore, scenario analyses demonstrated that both telemedicine modalities consistently delivered cost savings while improving perceived quality and accuracy across realistic adoption levels. Tele-Message consistently outperformed platform-based alternatives in terms of quality gains and cost savings, indicating its superior fit for Moldova’s infrastructure and digital usage patterns. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these conclusions.
In conclusion, the study provides compelling evidence that telemedicine, particularly asynchronous messaging, offers a strategically powerful, cost-effective, and patient-preferred pathway for enhancing access and quality within Moldova’s primary care system. The findings suggest that policymakers should prioritize digital literacy, infrastructure investments, user-centred platform design, and financial incentives to ensure equitable implementation and strengthen the resilience of the healthcare system across both urban and rural communities.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen