The Eastern Cape Health Department is planning to establish 29 telemedicine sites by March in an effort to improve the quality of health services in the province.
Telemedicine refers to health institutions that have hi-tech equipment that allows a link-up with specialist doctors from a different venue or country, who then give instructions to those at the centre on what procedures to perform on a patient.
Provincial telehealth co-ordinator Ebrahim Rajeev of Cecilia Makiwane in Mdantsane (near East London) says the telemedicine system aims to deliver quality healthcare services irrespective of the distance between doctors and patients, especially those in rural areas.
"Over the past five years, the Eastern Cape has become known as a telemedicine and e-health leader in SA because the province was one of the first to pilot telehealth. We currently have 12 telemedicine sites in the province," he says.
Provincial health MEC Bevan Goqwana says that by using information and communications technology, the department had been able to provide specialist support to the rural centres.
Goqwana says telemedicine would also be used to give support and educate health professionals working in rural hospitals or clinics.
"The department has strengthened the resource centres, which will facilitate administrative meetings between the head office and the clusters through video conferencing," he says.
There are four tele-radiology sites in the province located at St Barnabas, SS Gida, Humansdorp and Knessie Knight Hospitals.
Umtata Hospital and Butterworth will commence the telehealth system at the end of December and R6.6 million has been set aside to expand the programme.
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