Teleconsultations, which peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic, remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels across Europe. Experts explain why the share of teleconsultations varies so widely between countries.
Doctor is on the line: Is teleconsultation becoming more prevalent in Europe?
Doctor is on the line: Which European country uses telehealth the most?
COVID-19 reshaped many aspects of daily life and some of its changes have made a lasting impact. Doctor teleconsultation is one of them. During the pandemic, in-person visits carried significant health risks, prompting many countries to launch or expand remote consultation services. Teleconsultations have continued to gain ground across Europe since then, compared with pre-pandemic levels.
So, how widespread have teleconsultations become across Europe? To what extent has doctor teleconsultation per person increased across Europe? And which countries now have the highest share of teleconsultation in total consultations?
Teleconsultation, also known as telemedicine, became essential for delivering care during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, remote consultations by phone or video averaged 0.5 per patient per year across OECD countries, according to the organisation’s ‘Health at a Glance 2025’ report.
The study largely reflects Europe, as 18 of the 22 countries included in the data are European.
By 2021, teleconsultations had more than doubled to 1.3 teleconsultations. However, by 2023, the rate of teleconsultations had stabilised to 1 per patient per year. The report emphasises this “reflects a partial retreat from pandemic peaks while maintaining levels well above pre-pandemic baselines”.
“The overall trend is still rising, but with clear differences between countries. In some places, teleconsultations have become a regular part of healthcare,” Dr David Novillo Ortiz, head of data, AI and digital health at World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, told Euronews Health.
Except for Denmark and, to a very small extent, Finland, teleconsultations per person increased in 2023 compared to 2019.
Largest increase in Spain
The rise is significant in many countries, led by Spain and Lithuania, both exceeding an increase of 1 consultation per person. In Spain, the rate jumped from 0.3 to 1.7, while in Lithuania it rose from 0.1 to 1.2.
Other countries also saw notable increases in teleconsultations per person during this period.
Norway rose from 0.1 to 0.7, Croatia from 0.7 to 1.7, Portugal from 0.9 to 1.4, and Slovenia from 0.1 to 0.9.
Among Europe’s most populous countries, Germany showed no change, remaining at 0.1 teleconsultations per person, while France increased from 0 to 0.2.
In Denmark, teleconsultations fell from 2 to 1.7 per person, while in Finland they declined from 0.35 to 0.3.
Pointing out that Denmark already had a well-established tradition of telephone consultations before the pandemic, Francesc Saigi from Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) and director of Collaborating Centre in Digital Health at WHO stated that this decline does not mean that the country has rejected the model.
“Instead, it reflects a careful normalisation based on clinical quality, fairness and appropriateness,” Saigi said. “Denmark still maintained a high level of remote consultations in 2023 (26 per cent ).”
At least one in five consultations are remote in several countries
The share of teleconsultations in total doctor consultations per person exceeds 20 per cent in several European countries. This means that at least one in five doctor visits now takes place remotely rather than in person.
Estonia leads with 36 per cent, followed by Portugal (26 per cent), Sweden (25 per cent), Denmark (25 per cent) and Spain (22 per cent). Croatia also reaches 20 per cent.
“These examples reflect more digitally mature health systems, supported by solid infrastructure and reimbursement policies that make remote care sustainable,” Novillo Ortiz said.
On average across the 22 OECD countries in the dataset, 13 out of every 100 consultations are remote. Norway (21 per cent ) and Slovenia (15 per cent ) are above this average. Lithuania (12 per cent), Hungary (11 per cent) and Belgium (10 per cent) also record double-digit shares.
Among Europe’s two most populous countries, the share remains comparatively low. In Germany, it is just 1 per cent, while in France it stands at 4 per cent .
“The very low rate in Germany likely reflects long-standing attachment to in-person visits, a more cautious regulatory stance, and lower trust in digital solutions within parts of the population,” Dr Wojciech Malchrzak from Wroclaw Medical University, told Euronews Health.
In the Nordic region, teleconsultations account for around one in four consultations in Denmark and Sweden, but the rate is significantly lower in Finland at 7 per cent.
Why are teleconsultations on the rise?
Ortiz emphasised that the rise of teleconsultations in Europe is not the result of a single cause, but rather a combination of factors that have changed how health systems organise care.
“COVID-19 acted as a powerful accelerator: it pushed health systems and professionals to adopt remote care in just a few months,” he said.
“But the continued growth we see today depends on political decisions, technological capacity and professional acceptance.”
Saigi also noted that only countries with strong regulatory, financial and technological foundations have been able to make it a routine part of healthcare.
Why do teleconsultation shares vary so much?
Ortiz explained that national digital health strategies play a crucial role in this rise.
Countries such as the Nordic countries or Estonia, which have developed a clear and long-term vision for integrating teleconsultations into their health system, have managed to turn them into a stable and high-quality service.
These strategies offer a coherent framework for technological development, professional training and the evaluation of outcomes.
Funding and reimbursement are also significant.
“In countries where teleconsultations are fully reimbursed, usage remains high and continues to grow. When financial incentives disappear, usage drops sharply,” Ortiz said.
Dr Stefan Buttigieg from European Public Health Association (EUPHA) noted that populations more comfortable with digital tools—and cultures more open to remote interactions—adopted teleconsultations more readily.
Digital infrastructure and digital skills
According to Saigi, Ortiz, Buttigieg, and Malchrzak, other key factors behind these differences include professional acceptance, clinical suitability, mature and interoperable digital systems, digital infrastructure, and the population’s level of digital and health literacy.
“Countries with well-developed electronic health records and platforms that allow smooth data exchange can expand teleconsultation services much more easily,” Ortiz said.
“Access to broadband, availability of devices and digital skills all determine patients’ real ability to use teleconsultations.”
Francesc Saigi also said that in some countries, face-to-face examination is still seen as the gold standard, and both professionals and patients may be more reluctant to replace it.
Buttigieg underlined the role of the care model. Systems with strong primary care and chronic disease management integrate teleconsultations more easily than those that don’t.
