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Perspectives on Telemedicine during the Era of COVID-19; What Can Saudi Arabia Do?

Author

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  • Ali Mohsen Al-Hazmi

    (Health Promotion and Health Education Research Chair, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia
    Department of Family & Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia)

  • Haytham A. Sheerah

    (Health Promotion and Health Education Research Chair, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia
    Department of Preventive Cardiology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita 564-8565, Japan
    Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan)

  • Ahmed Arafa

    (Health Promotion and Health Education Research Chair, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia
    Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
    Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62511, Egypt)

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has represented a challenge to medical practice in Saudi Arabia and worldwide. In contrary to the increasing numbers of COVID-19 patients, there was a limitation in the capacity of medical practices and access to healthcare. A growing body of evidence from healthcare settings in Saudi Arabia and worldwide has suggested a possible role for telemedicine in responding to this evolving need. Telemedicine can be used for triage, direct care, follow-up, and consultation. It could be delivered through synchronous, asynchronous, and mixed approaches. While telemedicine has several advantages, such as accessibility and cost-effectiveness, its diagnostic reliability should be further investigated. The Saudi Vision (2030) has drawn up a roadmap to invest in digital healthcare during the coming decade; however, some barriers related to using telemedicine in Saudi healthcare settings, including cultural issues and technical difficulties, should be openly discussed. In addition, before putting telemedicine in practice on a wide scale in Saudi Arabia, more efforts should be carried out to issue updated legislation and regulations, discuss and respond to ethical concerns, and ensure data security.

Suggested Citation

  • Ali Mohsen Al-Hazmi & Haytham A. Sheerah & Ahmed Arafa, 2021. "Perspectives on Telemedicine during the Era of COVID-19; What Can Saudi Arabia Do?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-9, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10617-:d:653220
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Irina Paula Doica & Dan Nicolae Florescu & Carmen Nicoleta Oancea & Adina Turcu-Stiolica & Mihaela-Simona Subtirelu & Gindrovel Dumitra & Ion Rogoveanu & Dan Ionut Gheonea & Bogdan Silviu Ungureanu, 2021. "Telemedicine Chronic Viral Hepatitis C Treatment during the Lockdown Period in Romania: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-9, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Munshi Muhammad Abdul Kader Jilani & Md. Moniruzzaman & Mouri Dey & Edris Alam & Md. Aftab Uddin, 2022. "Strengthening the Trialability for the Intention to Use of mHealth Apps Amidst Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Mashael Alghareeb & Abdulmohsen Saud Albesher & Amna Asif, 2023. "Studying Users’ Perceptions of COVID-19 Mobile Applications in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-17, January.

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