Applicability of Telemedicine in Bangladesh: Current Status and Future Prospects

Ahasanun Nessa, Moshaddique Al Ameen, Sana Ullah, and Kyung Kwak
Graduate School of IT and Telecommunications, Inha University, Korea

Abstract: Telemedicine refers to the use of information and communication technology to provide and support health care mainly for the purpose of providing consultation. It is also a way to provide medical procedures and examinations to remote locations. It has the potential to improve the accessing to quality health care services and delivery while lowering costs even in the places with scarcity of resources. Understanding the potentiality of telemedicine, many developing countries are implementing it to provide health care facility to remote areas where health care facilities are poor. Bangladesh is not an exception to this either. In this paper we mention the reasons why Bangladesh has to move for telemedicine. We also present the past and on-going telemedicine activities and projects in Bangladesh. Analyzing these projects we have found out some factors which should be assessed carefully for successful implementation of telemedicine application. Considering Bangladesh telecommunication infrastructure, finally we propose a prototype telemedicine network that can improve health facilities through telemedicine by making a connection between rural health facility providers and special hospitals.

Received October 4, 2008; accepted November 25, 2008