Grant Amount: US$ 30,000

Keywords: TELEHEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES, CONNECTIVITY, ACCESS, NEPAL

Geographic coverage: Nepal

Objective

The objective of this project is to test the potential of telemedicine for pathology, dermatology and radiology in rural Nepal.

Research context

Nepal has an acute shortage of doctors with a ratio of approximately 6,000 people per doctor. In addition to this, health workers in rural areas, who serve the majority of the population, are isolated from specialist support and current information. This project sees the advent of information and communications technology (ICT) tools as offering new opportunities to address this situation and support the delivery of health services. This pilot project intends to gain experience in this area, emphasizing the use of technologies such as imaging, low-cost connectivity techniques, and training of local health care workers who will take the lead in developing and operating telemedicine projects. In its implementation the project will consider local technical and cultural conditions, the appropriateness of solutions, and address sustainability issues to ensure continuity of the system.

Target beneficiaries

The project benefits under-served communities in the rural and urban areas of Butwal, Jhapa and Bhaktapur and the primary health care project of Bhutanese refugees in Jhapa in Morang District. Health workers at Siddhi Memorial Foundation, Bhaktapur, Siddhartha Children and Women Hospital, Butwal and AMDA-Hospital, Damak will also benefit from the project work.

Outputs

• Develop a telemedicine system based on a store and foreword principle suitable for Nepal;
• Create a pool of health professionals at HealthNet Nepal who are trained in the use of digital cameras and related equipment for diagnosis and management of cases;
• Plan a potential collaboration with the Ministry of Health to implement the telemedicine system in remote areas;
• Make the imaging technology for diagnosis and management of health cases available to other organizations in Nepal; and
• Use free and open source software in telemedicine in remote areas.

Research results and outcomes

At the time of writing no reports were available on the progress of this project.

Duration

Start Date: August 2004
End Date: December 2006
Total Duration: 29 Months

Contact information

Dr. Mohan Raj Pradhan
HealthNet Nepal
P.B. 2533, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
Telephone/Fax: +977 1 442 9722
Email: mpradhan@healthnet.org.np