27 July 2010, Kyiv: Mobile operator MTS, Ministry of Health and the UN have launched Ukraine’s first medical telecommunications network. The capabilities of the network were displayed through a press conference that was channeled through video communication. This enabled representatives from Kyiv to participate in the event - organized by the Ministry of Health - and also allowed those who came to Uzhgorod and Donetsk regional hospitals to see how the telecommunications technology works in practice.
The Ministry of Health organized a press conference devoted to the Mobile Medicine project launch, and to the opportunities and prospects of modern telecommunication technologies in medicine. This initiative is implemented under the auspices of the Health Ministry with the support of the UN Office in Ukraine. The event was channeled through video communication, making it not only possible for representatives from Kiev to participate in the event, but also to those who came to Uzhgorod and Donetsk regional hospitals to see how the telecommunications technology works in practice.
The format was chosen deliberately to show how the telecommunications network works. Network participants include: the Ukraine Ministry of Health, the Clinical Research Telemedicine Center in Kiev, Donetsk and Transcarpathian (Uzhgorod) regional hospitals. It is the first real step towards creating an infrastructure of medical institutions using telecommunications technology to provide timely and quality medical aid to Ukrainians.
The network offers more affordable medical services to residents of regional centres, and to patients travelling from remote areas to regional hospitals for their consultations. For example, doctors and patients of Donetsk and Transcarpathian regional hospitals are able to transmit on-line diagnostic data, receive special consultation from specialists and also to gather councils and participate in conferences without leaving the office. The economic feasibility of implementing such telemedical systems is grounded on more efficient and effective use of human and material resources.
Two particular features contribute to the project uniqueness. First, there is a unique composition of partners and their commitments. While the United Nations has played the role of a ‘social broker’ - in other words, a system integrator - the Health Ministry has provided institutional support, and the private sector has become a driving force of the project.
Secondly, the essence of this project is not in patching up holes, but in creating a brand-new innovative system through information technology. Telemedicinal systems reduce the distance between doctor and patient, and doctor and doctor. It also provides an opportunity to solve a major development problem: the provision of a more equitqble access to the benefits of modern medical knowledge and high-quality medical consultations. Noted Yulia Shcherbinina, Public-Private Partnerships Officer at the Ukraine UN Office: «Today we can see the project results. Now it’s time to think about how we can enhance those achievements – from introducing infrastructure (elaborated information channels and installed equipment) to drawing on doctors’ enthusiasm in the stations. It`s time to start planning how to sustain the results we have seen up to now, and reach a new nationwide level of using information technology, to the benefit of both patient and doctor. Such scale of action seems impossible,without state engagement.”
The company MTS constantly introduces new technologies, products and services to clients. Now, the creation of a system for remote monitoring and data transferring in medical purposes has become a reality. “Telemedicine is a new, very interesting and promising medical application with clear social importance” said Andriy Dubovskov, Director General of MTS Ukraine. “Indeed, we cannot underestimate the potential of modern telecommunication technologies bringing benefits to all spheres, including the social.”
About telemedicine:
The term “telemedicine” was introduced by Dr. Kenneth T. Bird in 1972.
Telemedicine is a medical practice that works through using interactive audio-video communication systems without the usual physical physician-patient interaction. Telemedicine does not replace a doctor and is not an alternative. In fact, telemedicine increases experts’ proficiency and provides increased opportunities to be the centre of medical activity.
Introduction of telemedicine consultative diagnostic systems saves up to 40% of health care costs (according to estimates of the Biomedical Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, presented at the international conference on ‘Anticrisis and innovative potential of telemedicine and electronic system of Healthcare’).
Please follow the link below to learn more on history of telemedicine:
http://www.telemed.org.ua/journ/telemed/telemed_hist.pdf
More information:
Victoria Andrievska
Communications Officer
UN Office in Ukraine
Tel.: +38 (044) 254 00 35
Email:
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