Abstract

Telemedicine it potential use to strengthen health system including HIV/AIDS service in Ethiopia. A national assessment
By: M. Kifle¹, O. Bushen², W. Lemma²

Background: Delivery of healthcare services that meet the demand of accelerated service for HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, and other MDG priorities presents many challenges for governments in developing countries including adequately trained and competent human resources for health. One of the strategies is to bridge this distribution gap and to enhance access to quality health services by utilizing Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Tulane University with PEPFAR support has shown significant strides in developing an ICT infrastructure. Once deployed this infrastructure could be utilized intensively to build the capacity of health professionals as well as for patient care. An assessment of the status of the existing telecommunications infrastructure and readiness for tele-health programs was undertaken.
Methods: A number of models of needs assessment exist for telemedicine planning. Doolittle and Cook´s needs assessment model considering three critical perspectives: clinical; economic and technical broad categories using quantitative and qualitative was used.
Results: The assessment has shown there are widespread shortages in the availability of health professionals particularly specialists setting an environment in which telemedicine could play a role. There are no establishing referral system or referral guidelines. Commonly, patients referred to a hospital are handled by health professionals without the specific expertise required to address the condition. Universally, there is no provision of feedback to the referring institution. Though referrals are frequent, most commonly referred cases are accident related, obstructed labors as well as ophthalmic, dermatologic.
Information technology (IT) personnel are limited with limited budget for possible hiring.
Conclusions: Adequate training concerning all aspects of telemedicine should be provided to some key personnel in the system in order to scale up. The Federal Ministry Of Health With Tulane support is developing a National Tele-Health /Medicine strategy that will also address the potential of telemedcine to deliver HIV and other care and treatment program.