Persisting Barriers to the Adoption of Telemedicine in Latin America After the COVID-19 Pandemic
The pandemic spurred a rapid uptake of telemedicine by sidelining or overcoming the various challenges of implementing remote patient-care solutions, identified in numerous studies. Although the pandemic was the major factor driving adoption of telemedicine and telehealth, there are still several barriers that health systems need to address. However, health care administrators can rely on this modality of care as evidence largely shows that it is safe, effective, and widely accepted. This technical report gives a broad-strokes update on the development of telemedicine after the COVID pandemic in Chile, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia—the four countries that made the greatest strides in the field of telemedicine and telehealth in Latin America, identifying which barriers still persist to its full integration into the health system.
Progress Latin American Countries Since Covid-19
Listed here (Table 1) are four countries that made the greatest strides in telemedicine and telehealth in Latin America: Brazil, Chile, Columbia, and Mexico.
Brazil implemented telemedicine programs in several health areas, including primary and specialized care. Telehealth has been used to improve access to medical care in rural and remote areas, including among indige-nous communities. Brazil also has specific legislation that regulates telemedicine.
Chile has numerous telemedicine and telehealth pro-grams and platforms, particularly for use in rural and remote areas. It has promoted the implementation of information and communication technologies in medical care, such as teleconsultation and telemonitoring, through government programs like “Salud Conectada” (Connected Health) and “Telesalud” (Telehealth).
Want to read more? Head here: https://doi.org/10.30953/thmt.v8.423
Daniela Chueke, B.Soc.Sci | Global Health Intelligence, Coral Gables, Florida USA