Tele-medicine, an important component of e-health, is one of the most rewarding and promising achievements of the advances in information and communication technology. It has unfolded the possibility of narrowing the gap between developed and underdeveloped countries, between cities and villages and between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’. Through making services available to the needy in remotest areas, telemedicine can reduce mortality, morbidity, expenses, and psychological strains and can be a very useful tool for producing health for the people at large.
Several efforts have been ongoing in Nepal to provide access on quality health services for rural majority through Telemedicine. Kathmandu Model Hospital, the medical partner of NREN, with the support of NREN and Nepal Wireless have initiated a pilot project on 2006, which connects more than 80 Km far rural community hospital through setting up wireless network.
This is very successful initiatives and it has been replicating in different remote areas of Nepal. Currently we have connected 10 rural health centers and have been conducting regular virtual classes and real time tele-consults.
After connection with TEIN3, the telemedicine initiatives has broaden and have established better communication and relation with different Medical university, Teaching hospitals and the medical persons across the globe. We are connected to number of universities in the US, Japan, Korea, Australia and conducting regular session with Kyushu University Hospital Japan, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital Korea, University of Kansas and the University of New Mexico United States. And also working to develop regional network among South Asian TEIN3 partners.
Currently we have built active connection among following medical organization of Nepal to enhance telemedicine initiatives:
- Kathmandu Model Hospital, Bagbazar
- Institute of Medicine, Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu
- Dhulikhel Hospital
- Communication Health Education Services by Telehealth (CHEST), Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
- Gauri Shankar General Hospital, Dolakha
- Manmohan Memorial Community Hospital, Pharping
- Kirtipur Community Hospital