Consolidated telemedicine implementation guide

Overview

Telemedicine – which involves the delivery of health-care services over distance– has the potential to improve clinical management and extend coverage of services. In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic and related service delivery restrictions generated significant  interest in implementing and scaling up telemedicine services. In response to the global increase in demand, this guide provides an overview of key steps and considerations for implementing telemedicine and optimizing its benefits and impact. The guide aims to be an evolving document that harnesses learnings emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, while synthesizing key considerations from WHO resources relevant developed over the past decade. Overall, this consolidated guide provides a comprehensive overview of the key planning, implementation and maintenance processes to inform a costed investment plan and support countries across different stages in their telemedicine journey.