Assessing the benefits of telemedicine in remote populations - Press Release issued by Aga Khan University.

Karachi -- February 21, 2020 (PPI-OT)

Following is the text of press release issued by Aga Khan University (AKU)

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Telemedicine services can help deliver healthcare services to patients living in remote areas of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic in a timelier and more cost-effective manner, according to the findings of a new study conducted by researchers at Aga Khan University.

People living in rural regions of these countries suffer from inequitable access to healthcare services due to a combination of factors ranging from security concerns, inadequate transport infrastructure to poverty. This results in missed opportunities for preventive healthcare and delays in treatment leading to the worsening of chronic conditions and relatively higher rates of mortality and morbidity in these areas.

The study compared the benefits - in terms of travel costs and travel time - of consultations conducted by phone, or telemedicine services, to in-person appointments in over 25,000 cases between 2013 and 2017 across the four countries.

Researchers found that the use of telehealth services delivered savings of US$ 9.17 million and 213.1 years to patients which indicates that it has a significant role to play in providing universal health coverage in remote areas which lack access to healthcare: one of the targets under goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Cost savings from teleconsultations included the expense of a round trip to the nearest health facility as well as the costs of obtaining accommodation and purchasing meals. Patient savings were the highest in Afghanistan as lengthy distances combined with law and order concerns meant that patients would have to travel by plane to...