Abstract
Telemedicine has shown potentials in salvaging the dwindling healthcare system in low and middle-income countries but faced certain challenges that may create new health inequalities especially based on income. This letter discusses the debate that arises regarding the role of telemedicine on health inequalities in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). It calls for the development of strategies to prevent the widening of the health inequalities gap in LMICs from telemedicine usage. Recommendations were also highlighted to facilitate universal health coverage in LMICs through telemedicine.
Highlights
Telemedicine has shown potentials in salvaging the dwindling healthcare system in low and middle-income countries but faced certain challenges that may create new health inequalities especially based on income
Research has shown that 87% of premature deaths due to noncommunicable diseases occur in low and middle-income countries (World Health Organization, 2017)
This figure supports the differences that exist in the health status of low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs)
Summary
Telemedicine has shown potentials in salvaging the dwindling healthcare system in low and middle-income countries but faced certain challenges that may create new health inequalities especially based on income. Research has shown that 87% of premature deaths due to noncommunicable diseases occur in low and middle-income countries (World Health Organization, 2017). Due to certain challenges of telemedicine peculiar to low and middle-income countries, debate arises on whether telemedicine increases health inequalities or otherwise in these countries (Combi, Pozzani and Pozzi, 2016).
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