Pakistan witnessing a digital revolution in e-healthcare and telemedicine
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pakistan’s virtual health care system has progressed at an astounding speed. This digital revolution in e-healthcare and telemedicine is mainly due to the challenges triggered by the pandemic for the healthcare sector in Pakistan.
Telemedicine is now one of the top thriving industries in Pakistan. Many new e-healthcare startups have shared stories of their successful launch and are excited about the future of virtual healthcare in Pakistan. For instance, emeds.pk – a digital healthcare provider is a licensed digital pharmacy that provides easy access to medication with a free consultation with certified pharmacists. Due to its robust regulations and excellent customer service, the online pharmacy recently secured 2nd place in healthcare in the e-Commerce Awards 2020 and 3rd as the new e-Commerce Startup 2020. It is also the first online retail pharmacy in Pakistan to receive ISO 9001-2015 certification.
What is Telemedicine?
Telemedicine is the practice of offering remote clinical services via online platforms (website, app, social media, video). Telemedicine is an effective solution that guarantees you a timely appointment with your doctor online when it is not possible to see a doctor face-to-face due to COVID restrictions. It is also a useful platform for those who find it frustrating to get an appointment with primary care physicians (PCPs) and medical specialists when the waiting list might be of days, weeks, or even months.
Why is e-Healthcare gaining popularity in Pakistan?
The biggest reason behind its recent rise in Pakistan is the timely accessibility of medical services in any part of the country whether rural or urban.
Pakistan has a weak and inadequate healthcare sector and many lives are lost daily because of the unavailability or delay in medical aid, particularly in rural regions. Virtual healthcare is the answer.
Telemedicine and e-healthcare are also proving to be a great source of livelihood for most medical professionals in Pakistan. This is because 70% of all medical students are women, and many have to leave their profession to take care of their families. Virtual healthcare will open doors for these medical practitioners to continue their practice from the comfort of their homes.
Laura Sherida, project manager of Youth Empowerment Programme, UNDP Pakistan, explains the numerous benefits of the telemedicine program. She emphasises that telemedicine can be an accessible and affordable way to providing quality healthcare to patients, especially those in remote areas where healthcare systems are insufficient. It also increases the potential of women physicians who are not being utilised to their full potential owing to societal and cultural norms. The telemedicine platform helps build a more equitable and resilient society and contributes to UNDP’s goal of improving the lives of the people of Pakistan.
Telemedicine and e-healthcare also made it possible to provide medical facilities to the public on a much larger scale during the pandemic. There’s no doubt that telehealth will have a crucial role in any post-COVID-19 world.
How Telemedicine is saving lives during COVID-19 pandemic
The growing success of telemedicine in Pakistan during the pandemic highlights its potential and significance.
In March 2020, when a country-wide quarantine was imposed, many patients struggled to get timely treatment for COVID-19 and other health problems in an already exhausted and broken healthcare system. The situation got worse with the lockdown lifted in May 2020 and many hospitals struggled to keep up with the massive influx of patients.
With the ongoing pandemic, the need for qualified medical practitioners continues to increase as the number of cases are on the rise. Hospitals are going through a crisis due to a lack of medical staff and resources.
Furthermore, patients usually avoid going to hospitals out of fear of getting COVID-19 exposure. Pregnant women, the elderly, and patients with pre-existing health problems have a higher risk of contracting the virus while also constantly needing medical aid. During these challenging times, telemedicine plays a crucial role in providing medical help to people in need.
Implementation of Virtual Healthcare around the world
Countries like India, Philippines, Nigeria, and Brazil also had a very successful launch of telemedicine during the pandemic. Virtual healthcare has the potential to considerably improve health equity, particularly in countries with inadequate healthcare coverage. Thus, patients facing difficulty related to geography or disability are accessible more conveniently.
Observing the success of e-healthcare in Pakistan and other countries, the UNDP Global Centre for Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Development in Singapore and the HIV, Health and Development Team (UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub) are working to promote and boost the benefits of telemedicine – particularly in countries where healthcare systems need improvement and an upgrade.
Advantages of Telemedicine and e-Healthcare
- One of the main benefits of telemedicine is that you can easily access information and medical specialists that might not be readily available to you otherwise. You can tell the doctor your medical history and ask questions directly during a telemedicine consultation. In turn, the specialist can question you directly as well.
- Virtual healthcare allows you to hear firsthand about your diagnosis and treatment possibilities since it’s a one-on-one interaction.
- There are monitoring systems that healthcare professionals use for remote patients. These monitoring systems constantly exchange data with other medical agencies for interpretation. Because of this, patients can have the latest health updates from their respective doctors.
- Online peer discussion groups are a reliable source of helpful information and support. You get to meet people going through the same thing as you, which helps you feel less lonely.
- Telemedicine can help doctors and other healthcare specialists to update their knowledge and skills when they need it. They can watch lectures and presentations of the latest breakthroughs and technology without going anywhere.
- This type of medical assistance is even more significant for healthcare officials who volunteer in distant places or serve in the military. Medical facilities are rarely at hand, and getting treatment or information can be almost impossible. Telemedicine can help save a life in such fields.
Future role of Telehealth in post-COVID world
Telemedicine and e-healthcare is the future of the medical sector in the post-pandemic world. As the treatment cost continues to rise and healthcare is unavailable in some areas of Pakistan, telemedicine seems to be the only possible solution. It will offer fast, reliable, and cost-effective health services covering both rural and urban areas of Pakistan.