The revival of telemedicine in the age of COVID-19: Benefits and impediments for Pakistan
Maheera Farooqi, Irfan Ullah, Muhammad Irfan, Anab Rehan Taseer, Talal Almas, Mohammad Mehedi Hasan, Fatima Khan, Abdulaziz Alshamlan, Abdulaziz Abdulhadi, Vikneswaran Raj Nagarajan
Abstract
<div>Defined as “the use of information and telecommunication technologies (ICT) in medicine, telemedicine intends to provide appropriate healthcare at a distance, hence eliminating the need for direct contact between a patient and physician. It can be classified according to the type of interaction (pre-recorded or real-tie) and type of format in which information is conveyed (videos, pictures, audio, etc.). Particularly in the setting of a natural or man-made disaster, telemedicine is known to function as a key component in the emergency response, enabling people to access routine care and health support despite widespread disruptions in health services. </div>