Health body calls for introduction of telemedicine system

THE Health Professional Council of Zambia (HPCZ) says there is need for the integration of telemedicine to help alleviate the country’s current patient to doctor ratio imbalance.
Mupumpu Kafwafwa, the HPCZ Deputy Registrar for Technical Services said there were several key benefits of incorporating telemedicine, including improved patient outcomes through faster access to treatment.
Dr Kafwafwa said telemedicine had the potential to reduce costs and time associated with travelling long distances and enhanced disease surveillance and management capabilities.
Dr Kafwafwa said telemedicine would facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing between healthcare professionals, enabling them to better meet the needs of the patients.
He explained that telemedicine was holds immense potential for Zambia’s healthcare landscape, specifically in its ability to overcome the country’s challenges with population distribution and healthcare professional shortages.
And Dr Kafwafwa has highlighted the value of telemedicine in overcoming geographical barriers, enabling specialists to reach patients in underserved areas and improving access to high-quality care.
He underscored the importance of safeguarding patient data privacy and security in telemedicine services, noting that these factors play a crucial role in building patient confidence in digital healthcare solutions.
Dr Kafwafwa noted the importance of developing standardised guidelines and regulations for telemedicine practices that prioritise ethical and legal standards.
He said introduction of such regulations will create a framework that protects both healthcare providers and patients, ensuring that digital healthcare is safe, secure and trustworthy.