Telemedicine brings healthcare to remote areas

MANILA, Philippines –  The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has partnered with the Asia Pacific Advanced Network (APAN) for a telemedicine project to provide Filipinos in far-flung areas access to quality health services.

Doctors can now diagnose and recommend in real time treatment or medication to patients in remote areas through telemedicine, a multiplatform electronic technology that runs through a government broadband called PREGINET or Philippine Research, Education and Government Information Network.

“Telemedicine makes it possible for doctors to access and transfer medical data, still images, and live audio and video transmissions. This is a health care option that bridges the doctor-patient divide,” said DOST Secretary Mario Montejo.

DOST’s Advanced Science and Technology Institute based in Diliman, Quezon City manages PREGINET, a partner of APAN that broadcasts high quality telemedicine sessions via the Internet.

“Doctors can make decisions and recommendations on a patient’s condition faster through telemedicine. That’s because doctors could actually hear the medical history and current condition directly from the patient,” director Denis Villorente said.

Doctors at the Philippine General Hospital recently held a teleconference on maternal-fetal medicine, which covered discussions on eliminating congenital or hereditary defects in uterus and prevention of high risk pregnancy.

Japan’s Kyushu University organized the teleconference held at the University of the Philippines-Manila for the International Fetal Medicine and Surgery Society.

PGH doctors have been participating in telemedicine sessions since 2007.

“Through telemedicine, we are able to learn from the experiences of other university hospitals and may adopt some practices that are applicable to our institution,” UP-PGH Department of Surgery chief Dr. Serafin Hilvano said.

It also enables simplified and personalized medical administration, and continuing education of doctors, caregivers, and patients.