The Ministry of Health and Food Hygiene is focused on enhancing telemedicine services in Nepal to make them more effective, organized, and sustainable. This initiative aligns with the government’s goal of promoting healthcare through digital platforms.
A recent meeting included Health Secretary Dr. Bikas Devkota, representatives from Patan Hospital and Bir Hospital, and the Curative Service Division. They discussed strategies to improve telemedicine services.
Participants addressed the financial and human resources needed for long-term sustainability of these services.
They also proposed creating a dedicated division for telemedicine to ensure consistent and effective service delivery.
The ministry is working on enhancing patient information management through telemedicine, discussing systematic methods for record-keeping while safeguarding patients’ personal data.
Officials emphasized the importance of tackling potential challenges before further promoting telemedicine, highlighting that reliable user verification is crucial for building public trust.
Health Minister Mehta noted that telemedicine should not just be viewed as a technology solution, but as a vital tool for increasing citizens’ access to quality healthcare.
As the meeting covered policies and technical measures for future telemedicine phases, the ministry aims to create a more reliable and sustainable telemedicine framework.
Nepal already has government-issued guidelines regulating telemedicine and online health
services, including rules for registered medical practitioners and digital health practices.
This latest initiative is expected to enhance the organization of telemedicine services, ensuring better staffing, record management, user verification, and data protection.