Telemedicine in Nepal explained

Telemedicine in Nepal is a new approach that connects healthcare providers with patients in remote areas, overcoming geographical and infrastructure challenges to improve access to healthcare.[1] By utilizing information technology, telemedicine has proven to be a cost-effective and efficient solution for delivering healthcare services across the country.[2]

Background

The Government of Nepal has recognized the importance of telemedicine in improving healthcare delivery, particularly for remote and underserved populations. For instance, telemedicine services have been targeted at providing healthcare to migrant workers both within and outside the country.[3] After the COVID-19 pandemic, government hospitals and private health centers in Nepal started using telemedicine more widely.[4] [5]

In 2021 the government started telemedicine services in the Bir Hospital.[6] Several private centers in Nepal have begun offering telemedicine services, either for free or on a paid basis. Among these National Cardiac Centre is offering free telemedicine services to both migrant workers and those living in remote areas of Nepal.[7] [8] This initiative leverages innovative IT technology to reach patients who might otherwise lack access to specialized care.[9]

Apart from clinical services, telemedicine in Nepal is also used as a platform for sharing medical knowledge. Numerous doctors utilize online platforms to educate the public and raise awareness on various health-related topics.[10]

The Nepal Medical Council (NMC), recognizing the growing trend of telemedicine, has begun formulating guidelines to ensure the safe and ethical practice of telemedicine.These guidelines are designed to address issues related to the standardization of care, patient privacy, and the legal responsibilities of healthcare providers.[11]

Telemedicine offers great potential to improve healthcare access for underserved populations, including those in remote areas and migrant workers. However, challenges like poor internet, low awareness, and the digital divide limit its adoption in rural regions.[12] [13] Despite these issues, telemedicine is seen as a crucial tool for enhancing healthcare access in Nepal, with continued investment promising further growth.[14]

Notes and References

  1. Parajuli . Rajan . Doneys . Philippe . 2017-11-01 . Exploring the role of telemedicine in improving access to healthcare services by women and girls in rural Nepal . Telematics and Informatics . 34 . 7 . 1166–1176 . 10.1016/j.tele.2017.05.006 . 0736-5853.
  2. Book: Subedi . Ramesh R. . Peterson . Carrie B. . Kyriazakos . Sofoklis . Telemedicine for Rural and Underserved Communities of Nepal . IFMBE Proceedings . 2011 . 34 . Dremstrup . Kim . Rees . Steve . Jensen . Morten Ølgaard . 15th Nordic-Baltic Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics (NBC 2011) . https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-21683-1_29 . Berlin, Heidelberg . Springer . 117–120 . 10.1007/978-3-642-21683-1_29 . 978-3-642-21683-1.
  3. Web site: Government to start telemedicine services for migrant workers from Wednesday . 2024-09-05 . kathmandupost.com .
  4. Web site: Awale . Sonia . 2022-02-28 . Healthcare moving from hospitals to homes . 2024-09-05 . nepalitimes.com.
  5. Web site: Republica . Govt launches telemedicine in all 7 provinces to fight coronavirus . 2024-09-05 . My Republica .
  6. Web site: Nepal's first teleconsultation centre to bridge barriers in treatment . 2024-09-05 . www.who.int .
  7. Web site: National Cardiac Centre's Remote Care Revolution: Bridging Health Gaps for Nepalese Abroad . 2024-09-05 . News of Nepal .
  8. Web site: प्रेस . नेपाल हेल्थ . 2024-01-18 . National Cardiac Centre: Extending a Lifeline to Rural Hearts . 2024-09-05 . Nepal Health Press नेपाल हेल्थ प्रेस .
  9. Web site: Republica . Innovative Use of IT for Quality Health Care Delivery . 2024-09-05 . My Republica .
  10. Web site: Doctors take to social media to inform public about diseases . 2024-09-05 . kathmandupost.com .
  11. Book: NMC guidelines for Telemedicine.
  12. Haleem . Abid . Javaid . Mohd . Singh . Ravi Pratap . Suman . Rajiv . 2021 . Telemedicine for healthcare: Capabilities, features, barriers, and applications . Sensors International . 2 . 100117 . 10.1016/j.sintl.2021.100117 . 2666-3511 . 8590973 . 34806053. 2021SensI...200117H .
  13. Gurupur . Varadraj P. . Miao . Zhuqi . 2022-04-20 . A brief analysis of challenges in implementing telehealth in a rural setting . mHealth . 8 . 17 . 10.21037/mhealth-21-38 . free . 2306-9740 . 9014233 . 35449506.
  14. Koirala . Sanjib . Parajuli . Bibek Raj . December 2021 . The Scope of Telemedicine in Nepal during COVID-19 Pandemic . Journal of Nepal Medical Association . 59 . 244 . 1326–1327 . 10.31729/jnma.6692 . 1 November 2024 . 0028-2715 . 9200020 . 35199788.

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