OBJECTIVES: To gather insights into global (5EU, US, emerging markets) national policy & key decision-makers’ beliefs & perceptions on current and future landscape as well as impact and value of telehealth/telemedicine initiatives within healthcare programmes from health economic perspectives. METHODS: Both primary and secondary research was used for this study. Literature reviews with compilation of all relevant and up-to-date information including data in local languages. Primary research focused on market specifics where clarification and market insights were required (such as MOH, budget-holder’s organisations, Public Health Institutions, senior health care professionals). RESULTS: Benefits for improving both accessibility and quality of health care through telehealth/telemedicine have vast potential. These initiatives require substantial investment, whereas human and financial resources are limited. It is important to demonstrate economic viability, in addition to technical and clinical evaluations, in order to understand the optimal conditions under which new telehealth/telemedicine programmes should be unfolded. Traditionally, cost-effectiveness analysis is used to evaluate telehealth/telemedicine programmes. Such an approach is represented only by monetary differentials (fixed, variable, marginal, and direct and indirect costs) and has numerous limitations due to the lack of available data as well as constant changes in technological progress. As discovered, it is imperative to add a range of different analytical techniques to traditional cost analyses. Other factors - such as perception and investment choices, quality of healthcare provision, consumer choice and political environment - should be taken into consideration. CONCLUSIONS: To understand the criteria national leaders use, and the supporting evidence they require, to allocate monetary resources for innovative telehealth/telemedicine programmes – traditional monetary analysis is not enough and we recommend two supplementary approaches: societal and perceptual analysis. This will allow further insights on views and value that telehealth/telemedicine initiatives deliver - and the priority within health care programmes - in order to reveal the willingness to pay among key decision-makers.