ZAMBIA

TELEMEDICINE IN ZAMBIA-WHERE ARE WE?

By

Dr Sydney ShampileBScHB, MBChB, MMed(SGY) (UNZA)

Chandigarh, India16/03/2015

Contents

• Introduction• Telemedicine in Zambia• Network• Equipment• Telemedicine CME• Other benefits• The Eclipse• Where is the problem• Solutions• Conclusion

South Central Africa

Land locked but land linked

752,614 km2

Zambia: India= 1:4

15million people

Africa Cup Champions2012

Lusaka 2015

1964

Copper Mines

Tourism

Agriculture & Wild life

Zambia Telemedicine

• The project funded by Government of India

• Launched in Zambia on 9th November 2009

• Managed by Pan-African e-Network Project who offer technical support

• Inaugural second phase of the Pan-African e-Network Project was launched on 16th August 2010

Network

• From Zambia to Senegal hub via RASCOM (Regional African Satellite Communication Organization)

• This connection is via VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal)

• Senegal hub to India connected via MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) line

• Connected with over 10 different super specialty hospitals in India

Equipment• 1. Glucometer

• 2.Urine analyzer

• 3.BP machine

• 4.Mobile X-ray machine

• 5.Ultra sound scanning machine

• 6.Xray digitizer

• 7.ECG machine

• 8.Defibrillator

• 9.Hot air sterilizer

• 10.Microscope with digital cameras .

Telemedicine CME

• Tele-consultation

• On-line Continues Medical Education (CME)

• Off-line session

• Computers connected for different applications

Other benefits• Support e-governance and e-commerce

• Infotainment

• Resource mapping

• Meteorological

• VVIP connectivity among the Heads of State of 53 African countries through a highly secure closed satellite network.

The eclipse

• We see light and great potential

• Still have obstacles

• Low usage

• Doctors, Pathologists, Psychiatrists and Radiographers not well informed of activities

• UG and PG students not taking advantage of tele-education

Where is the problem?

• Break in communication

Service Manager

UTH Management

Community

Health workers

Where is the problem?

• Interest?

• Acceptability?

• Support infrastructure?

• Motivation?

• Lack of accessibility?

• Incentives?

Solutions

• Find root cause

• Improve communication

• Develop interest

• Demonstrate advantages to stake holders

• Improve accessibility

• Introduce telemedicine into UG curriculum

• Improve support infrastructure

• Incentives????

Conclusion

• Telemedicine has potential to improve health care delivery

• Encourage usage

• Medical IT is unavoidable and way to future development

Thank you