Startups eye post-pandemic ‘tele-health’ revolution

From mental health apps to a helmet that can shock a patient's brain remotely, startups at this year's Web Summit are betting on a major shift towards "tele-medicine" as the world emerges from the pandemic. Woebot's founder Alison Darcy, a clinical research psychologist, said the chatbot avoided the "baggage and social constructs" that come with human interactions -- worrying that the other person will judge you, for instance. Critics of the shift towards tele-medicine also worry that providers may be tempted to hand patients cheaper virtual appointments when they would prefer to see a doctor face-to-face. Virtual appointments have been available via France's public healthcare system since 2018, while Germany started allowing doctors to prescribe the use of apps, such as weight trackers, last year.