Establishing a paediatric telemedicine centre in a low-resource setting: Experience and challenges from a teaching hospital in Kaduna, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Telemedicine has the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved and remote areas. It can help bridge the gap in access to care by using telecommunication technology to connect patients with healthcare providers. However, establishing a telemedicine centre is a complex process, particularly in lowresource settings. Objective: To describe the experience of and challenges faced in establishing a telemedicine centre in the Paediatric Department of Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital (BDTH) in Kaduna, Nigeria. Method: The process of setting up the telemedicine centre and the challenges faced by the hospital are described. Results: The hospital faced several challenges, including a lack of infrastructure, dearth of resources and a lack of trained personnel. Despite these challenges, the hospital was able to establish a telemedicine centre and begin providing services to patients. The telemedicine centre had a positive impact on patient care by increasing access to care for those in remote areas or to those not able to travel to the hospital. It also allowed the hospital to expand its reach and utilize its resources more efficiently. Conclusions: The establishment of a telemedicine centre at the Paediatric Department of BDTH, Kaduna, Nigeria, has had a significant impact on patient care, particularly for children who may not have had access to specialist care otherwise. Lack of infrastructure, dearth of resources and a lack of trained personnel were the main challenges in the establishment of the telemedicine centre. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2023: 52(2): 155-160