April 25, 2008
Impact of telemedicine must be defined in developing countries
Posted by: admin : Category: Uncategorized
The editorial by Edworthy shows the dangers of external commentary on what is most useful for developing countries.1 How can we measure the comparative impact of teleconsultation in Uzbekistan or Cambodia with teleconsultation in snowbound northern Canada, telemetry in Norway supporting elderly people at home, or teleradiology avoiding long painful journeys in remote parts of the British Isles? What values do we use? economic, social, quality adjusted life years, consumer feedback, political position, or provider satisfaction?
More importantly, how do we measure the impact of telemedicine on the health systems of developing countries? Will strengthening secondary care for a few disadvantage basic primary care or environmental health for the many? Will investment in the required rural telecommunications be at the expense of providing drinkable water? Will developing countries too be seduced by the expensive impact of technology led tertiary care for the few, while ignoring the endemic impact of modified health related behaviour? Will opportunistic global traders exploit the vulnerable?
