Jordanian, Palestinian doctors discuss utilising telemedicine

AMMAN –– A number of Jordanian and Palestinian doctors met in the capital on Wednesday to look into ways to cooperate more closely.

The meeting was held as part of the Telemedicine Network, launched by the Palestinian ministry of health in cooperation with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

Established in 2009, the project was created with the aim of enhancing medical consultation among doctors in Palestine and Jordan, project coordinator Tala El Yousef said.

She noted that this is the second conference held by the GIZ; the first was held in Ramallah.

“The medical consultations that we focus on are related to heart diseases, cancer and other cases,” she told The Jordan Times during the meeting, adding that organisers are trying to expand the project. 

Yousef noted that six hospitals in Palestine, including four public facilities, are involved in the project.

“We conducted training for doctors on how to use telemedicine in Jordan and Palestine. We are also trying to expand the scope of beneficiaries.” 

Telemedicine is “the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patient’s clinical health status”, according to the American Telemedicine Association.

“Telemedicine includes a growing variety of applications and services using two-way video, e-mail, smart phones, wireless tools and other forms of telecommunications technology.”

Around 150 doctors have benefited from GIZ’s training in Jordan and Palestine, according to Yousef, who said five hospitals in the Kingdom have benefited from the project.

“GIZ will remain in the project until March 2015, and then the Palestinian health ministry will take over the project,” she added, noting that the project was initially launched to boost the health sector in Palestine. 

Senator Wajih Azaizeh said he attended Wednesday’s meeting not only to talk about means of communication between Jordanian and Palestinian doctors, but also about health issues related to Palestinian refugees in both countries. 

“I think it is an important issue because there are some patients who do not have health insurance coverage. They also cannot afford the expenses of their medication,” he told The Jordan Times.   

Palestinian Deputy Minister of Health Anan Masri said the heath sector in his country faces several challenges.

“The [Israeli] occupation is the main problem. The lack of human resources is also another obstacle,” he added.