Telemedicine Guidelines for Doctors in Nepal
All registered medical practitioners in Nepal should have adequate knowledge of telemedicine.
Telemedicine has been one of the effective tools for continuity of care. Many patients in remote
and rural areas need follow-up and continuity of care.
Effective and proper use of telemedicine may also increase the quality and safety of healthcare. Healthcare can be made affordable and accessible to all parts of Nepal and thus ensure equity.
Telemedicine may be the only practical means of reaching out to difficult places for emergency care. It comes particularly handy while taking care of patients or guiding coworkers during times of epidemics or pandemics like COVID-19, where maintaining safe physical distance and yet having all vital health information in real time to be able to make the right clinical decisions.
Teleconsultation and practices of telemedicine should be incorporated with EMR and EHR as a part of digitization in health. Lack of proper guidelines for the use of telemedicine has been a barrier to its development. The current guidelines are expected to guide the professionals through the norms so that the service is felt safe by the service seeker and service provider.
Objectives for the Telemedicine for Doctors
3.1 To provide Code of Conduct for registered medical practitioners regarding safe telemedicine services
3.2 To guide medical practitioners to provide safe, quality and effective medical care through telemedicine founded on available resources, patient needs and actual real time scenario
3.3 To give practical advice to doctors to promote the use of safe telemedicine practices
3.4 To guide and promote medical tele-education for registered medical practitioner and Health Institutes
3.5 To provide guidance on safety and privacy of data of the patients
3.6 To provide a framework for interoperability and scalability across Telemedicine services
3.7 To form a base for electronic documentation, electronic medical records and electronic health records
3.8 To provide a base for legal action against negligence, misconduct and violence of the rules to patients and providers.
