The World Health Organization (WHO, Europe Region) has launched a resource to help healthcare systems around the world implement telemedicine services . The tool, called the Support tool to strengthen telemedicine , was developed by researchers at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) as part of its work as a WHO Collaborating Centre in eHealth between 2018 and 2024. The UOC's Faculty of Health Sciences is internationally recognized for its work in telemedicine and eHealth , in the fields of research and the development of solutions, and in the training of professionals, areas in which it has 16 years of experience .
According to a recent WHO report for the Europe Region, 78% of member states include telemedicine in their health policies. Nevertheless, this type of healthcare is deployed unevenly, and one of the main challenges is the lack of guides to support its implementation. The Epi4health group researcher Francesc Saigí, and a member of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the UOC, explained that "the tool is ideal for countries seeking to integrate telemedicine into their digital health strategy in order to ensure equitable access to health services.
It's also useful for healthcare networks, as it helps to coordinate services between different levels, enhancing their continuity and efficiency." This tool is a guide to assist healthcare systems around the world in the design, development, implementation and assessment of telemedicine services. With this resource, lea.