Many families use video consultations with pediatricians - Hesse Pioneers Remote Healthcare for Adults After Pediatric Success
Hesse is pioneering remote healthcare with a successful video consultation program for children and a copilot project underway for adults. The initiative, led by Health Minister Diana Stolz, aims to improve work-life balance for doctors and address rural healthcare access gaps.
The program, launched in 2023, initially focused on pediatric care. A pool of 50 office-based pediatricians provide video consultations four days a week. In October 2025 alone, 86 percent of cases were fully resolved remotely. Since October 1, 2025, 251 video consultations have been conducted. The copilot project began with weekend consultations, conducting 1,550 consultations over 58 days.
Now, the program is expanding to adults. A copilot project is currently underway in Hesse, with concrete figures expected by next spring. However, details about participating doctors remain unavailable. Planning for this phase is challenging due to uncertainty over staffing needs.
Hesse's video consultation program has proven successful in pediatric care, with remote consultations improving work-life balance for doctors and providing access to care in rural areas. As the program expands to adults, it is expected to bring similar benefits, further pioneering remote healthcare in Germany.
