The second day of the workshop focused on the sharing of experiences and knowledge on telemedicine. The session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Pradeep Vaidya, Institute of Medicine, and Mr. Pavan Shakya, ICT4D. The session started with a presentation from Dr. Aarati Shah of the Urban Health Promotion Center, who talked about the use of telemedicine in urban healthcare. This was followed by a presentation from Mr. Abhimanyu Pandey of ICT4D, who presented historical background on SDGs, the importance of data and quantification, and telemedicine approaches to addressing health issues in Nepal.
Dr. Raju Dhakal of SIRC, Nepal presented the importance of telerehabilitation services for people with spinal cord and brain injuries. He discussed how it can improve their functional independence, mental health, and quality of life based on the findings from a study in Nepal on the use of various communication technologies to connect with patients in the community. The study found significant improvements in mobility, self-care, pain, and discomfort, as well as a positive response from participants.
Dr Anil Suwal of Valley Health Urgent Care and Occupational Health, Dr. Suwal’s presentation discusses the history and evolution of telemedicine, highlighting the difference between telemedicine and telehealth. He emphasizes the importance of HIPAA compliance and maintaining a human touch in patient care. The presentation also touches on concerns about the safety of using the internet to transfer medical data and the use of holographic images as a potential solution to provide a more personal and comforting experience for patients.
Er. Binod Chandra Shrestha, Deputy Director of Nepal Telecommunication Authority emphasized the significance of telecommunication infrastructure in enhancing healthcare services in rural areas of Nepal. He discussed the shortage of healthcare resources in rural regions and how telecommunication can facilitate remote diagnosis, consultation, and treatment. Additionally, he provided information on the Digital Nepal Framework, which includes healthcare as one of its core components, and provided an update on Nepal’s telecommunication infrastructure.
Dr. Amrit Bogati, a cardiologist at Sahid Gangalal Hospital discussed the feasibility of the hub and spoke model. He observed that this approach could enable early diagnosis and management of STEMI. However, to implement this model effectively, it is crucial to have more hub hospitals, raise mass awareness, obtain government support, and ensure the availability of dedicated medical professionals for more effective interventions that help reduce the mortality and morbidity of STEMI patients in Nepal. His case study also showcased how social media platforms, such as Viber groups, helped diagnose and coordinate the treatment process for a STEMI patient.
Kabin Malekhu of Ask Foundation shared their COVID-19 response efforts in Nepal during the second wave of the pandemic in 2021. They formed a coalition called “Covid Alliance” with other organizations, secured funding, and set up a medical hotline using SIP Line from Smarttel and getdesk software. The hotline, launched after structured training for health professionals, aimed to increase accessibility to consultations for the public during the surge in COVID-19 cases, and they made recommendations for readily available hotlines, dedicated response teams, and multisectoral collaboration.
After the tea break, the session continued with a discussion on telemedicine engineering. The presentations included a report on international telemedicine training programs from Shintaro Ueda of Kyushu University Hospital, experience of telemedicine training program in Mongolia by Munkhzul Ochirbat of Mongolia-Japan Hospital, and technical updates in Bangladesh from Dr. Mohammad Kamruzzaman Khan of Mymensingh Medical College.
The session also included a presentation from Mr. Satya and Mr. Mohan of the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, technical updates in Malaysia from Mr. Zahir of the University of Malaya, and technical updates in Indonesia from Mr. Tunggul. Dr. Dimple Chopra from Punjabi University, Patiala presented on a topic that was to be determined. The session ended with a live demonstration of the 360-degree management system for an international telemedicine conference from Yukiko Hisada of Kyushu University Hospital.
The third session of the day was chaired by Mr. Mohan Pradhan and Mr. Lochan Lal Amatya and focused on the WHO/MoPH session. Dr. Udaya Koirala presented the welcome address and the declaration, followed by a presentation from Mr. Rajendra Poudel of DoHS, IHIMS, on the roadmap for telemedicine and key considerations for developing countries. Dr. Madan K Upadhaya of MoHP presented on the readiness of the Ministry of Health and Population for telemedicine services in Nepal, and Paban Kumar Ghimire of WHO talked about the guidance and efforts of the organization for telemedicine implementation.
The second day of the workshop was informative and provided insights into the various aspects of telemedicine. The presentations and discussions highlighted the opportunities and challenges of implementing telemedicine in Nepal and other developing countries. The sessions were interactive, and the participants had the opportunity to ask questions and share their experiences. The workshop was successful in promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration in the field of telemedicine.
Overall, the experience-sharing session at the 16th Asia Telemedicine Symposium provided valuable insights into the state of telemedicine implementation across Asia. The focus on the role of nurses in telemedicine highlighted the importance of their contribution to the success of telemedicine programs, and the session provided an opportunity to learn from the experiences of telemedicine end-users from different countries. The symposium’s Telemedicine Workshop aimed to build on these insights and further promote the adoption and implementation of telemedicine programs across the region.
The event was also focused on the latest advancements in digital devices and their impact on the field of telemedicine and digital health. Digital devices such as smartphones, wearables, and medical sensors have become increasingly prevalent in the healthcare industry. These devices have enabled healthcare professionals to remotely monitor and manage patients’ health, reducing the need for in-person visits and improving patient outcomes. The use of these devices has also led to the creation of vast amounts of health-related data that can be used to inform healthcare decisions and improve patient care.
Program Schedule and Meeting Declaration can be accessed via this link.