In this blog post, we will look at the possibilities and challenges of telemedicine in developing countries with insufficient medical infrastructure.
Why telemedicine is urgently needed in developing countries
Many developed countries are entering an aging society. This is due to many factors, but the development of medicine has led to a steady increase in the average life expectancy, which has led to rapid development of the healthcare system. One such development is the telemedicine system. Telemedicine is any medical-related activity using information and communication technology, and it is divided into telemedicine between doctors and between doctors and patients. Over the past half-century, the development of groundbreaking information and communication technologies and the establishment of medical data have brought about major changes in human health and the healthcare environment. In particular, the development of telemedicine technology is playing an important role in making medical services accessible not only in developed countries but also around the world.
However, the situation is different in developing countries (countries with low HDI according to the UN). In developing countries, there is a large variation in the number of medical personnel depending on the region, and due to the uneven distribution of medical institutions, it is difficult for patients to go to hospitals and see doctors. In this situation, many patients die because they do not receive timely treatment for their diseases. In particular, the lack of proper response to infectious diseases can have serious consequences. For example, the Ebola virus that broke out in West Africa in 2014 caused many deaths due to the lack of proper diagnosis and treatment. If a telemedicine system had been introduced in these developing countries, many lives could have been saved through prompt diagnosis and treatment.
The necessity and possibility of telemedicine
In developed countries, telemedicine has already been commercialized and patients are enjoying many benefits. For example, according to the American Telemedicine Association, telemedicine is actively used to reduce the time and economic burden of travel for patients and medical personnel, and to enable specialists to diagnose patients and manage patients who require long-term treatment. The Department of Health Technology at the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a dedicated program (e-HCD) that enables each country to establish a telemedicine delivery system. According to the WHO’s telemedicine report, about 30% of countries are implementing telemedicine. These statistics show that telemedicine is gradually spreading around the world, and suggest the need to introduce this technology even in developing countries.
The reality and challenges of developing countries
In developing countries, it can be difficult to introduce telemedicine because basic medical infrastructure is often lacking. However, the need for telemedicine is more urgent in developing countries. The incidence of disease and mortality rates are significantly higher in poor countries than in developed countries due to the shortage of doctors and poor health care facilities. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic that broke out at the end of 2019 has become a global source of fear, causing serious damage especially in developing countries with weak medical infrastructure. If telemedicine had been available in these situations, effective diagnosis and treatment could have been provided, reducing further infections and deaths. As such, telemedicine is a technology that can be used more effectively in developing countries, but in reality, it is often impossible without outside help. In developing countries, the most realistic solution is to build a telemedicine system by organically receiving the necessary capital and resources from developed countries.
In addition, there are various challenges to be overcome in order to implement telemedicine in developing countries. There are various issues such as vulnerability of personal information protection through telemedicine, risk of medical accidents, lack of standardization, technical limitations, and equipment incompatibility. International cooperation and technical support are essential to solve these issues.
Application of telemedicine in developing countries
Telemedicine has already been successfully applied in some developing countries. For example, the Novartis Foundation has launched a telemedicine project in the Bonsaaso area of Ghana, Africa. Although about 30,000 people live in the Bonsaaso area, only seven medical institutions are in operation, so residents had to travel long distances to receive medical care. However, the introduction of telemedicine systems has enabled communication between doctors and patients across geographical barriers, greatly improving access to medical care. This case shows that telemedicine can play an important role in reducing medical inequality and increasing access to medical care in developing countries.
Conclusion: The Future of Telemedicine
The benefits that telemedicine seeks ultimately depend on the system being in place. But can a telemedicine system actually be easily implemented in developing countries or underdeveloped countries? The first problem is that it costs a lot of money to build a telemedicine infrastructure. In developing countries or underdeveloped countries, expensive equipment and internet connections are very scarce, making it difficult to introduce technology. In addition, the reality of healthcare in underdeveloped countries may be more desperate than the development of science and technology, with the most basic sanitary facilities and nutrition being more pressing.
Therefore, in developing countries, it may be more realistic to build a low-cost telemedicine system that can provide basic medical diagnosis rather than introducing an advanced telemedicine system. It is important to understand the information and communication technology and network status of each country and prepare for the economic, physical, and regional environments when establishing a reasonable telemedicine system. For example, the Christian Medical Expeditionary (Swinfen Charitable Trust) provides an affordable telemedicine system that uses simple digital cameras and email to help diagnose diseases in patients in developing countries. Such a system can be a solution to provide professional medical services while reducing the cost burden.
Ultimately, telemedicine can be an important tool for dramatically improving the healthcare systems of developing countries and addressing healthcare inequalities around the world. Once telemedicine is commercialized in developing countries, patients will be able to receive equal healthcare services regardless of their country of origin, which will greatly contribute to the development of the global healthcare environment.
