Around 14,000 patients have so far received medical consultations through 10 government telemedicine centres established at basic health units and community health centres in different areas of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
14,000 patients benefit from ICT telemedicine centres
ISLAMABAD, Oct 04 (APP):Around 14,000 patients have so far received medical consultations through 10 government telemedicine centres established at basic health units and community health centres in different areas of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
According to official sources, the first government telemedicine centre was launched in January, while the network has now been expanded to 10 centres across the capital to provide medical consultations closer to citizens’ homes.
The sources said the initiative was aimed at facilitating patients, particularly those living in underserved areas, by enabling them to access medical advice without travelling long distances to major hospitals.
Through telephone and video consultations, patients can seek advice from specialists, including cardiologists and dermatologists, through their nearby telemedicine centres.
Prescriptions will be issued online, while medicines will be provided to patients at the centres, a facility that is expected to gradually reduce the rush at major hospitals and make healthcare services more accessible to citizens.
A large number of doctors, particularly female doctors, are currently not in active clinical practice. Through telemedicine services, they will be able to provide medical consultations to patients remotely from their homes, helping utilize their professional expertise and expand the available healthcare workforce.
Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal recently inaugurated telemedicine services at Community Health Centre Shah Allah Ditta, Islamabad, and highlighted the importance of strengthening primary healthcare facilities through modern technology.
The telemedicine initiative has been implemented in partnership with Sehat Kahani to improve timely access to quality healthcare, particularly for communities with limited access to specialized medical services.
The sources said the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination and the District Health Office Islamabad were committed to strengthening public healthcare, facilitating timely diagnosis, improving referral mechanisms and expanding access to healthcare through digital technology.
The Ministry of Health has also developed a Telemedicine Policy to provide a framework for the delivery of medical expertise for diagnosis and patient care through telecommunications and information technology when patients and healthcare providers are geographically separated.
Under the policy, telemedicine may include pathology, medical imaging and patient consultation services, to provide clinical support, overcoming geographical barriers and using information and communication technologies to improve patient experience and health outcomes.
The policy also provides for licensed telemedicine practitioners, with qualified doctors required to hold the relevant authorization to provide telemedicine services in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
The expansion of government telemedicine centres is expected to further improve access to specialist consultations, support primary healthcare and reduce the need for patients to travel to distant healthcare facilities.
