Medical experts have urged county governments in Nyanza and Western regions to embrace the telemedicine system to enhance health services provision to residents.
Officers from the Addis Clinic say that using telemedicine is one of the fastest and cheap methods of providing health services to the people.
Telemedicine involves use of telecommunication technologies to diagnose diseases.
The Addis Clinic Telemedicine and Global Health coordinator Felix Wambogo and HIV programme manager Edwin Wara said the system has been growing after Covid-19 pandemic.
During the pandemic, health experts were rooting for social distance.
Wambogo said county government should start using the system to minimise contact between patients and health experts.
“It can as well be used to connect patients at a local hospital with experts from other countries. Complicated illnesses can also be diagnosed with ease,” he said.
The coordinator argued that embracing telemedicine system will help most patients who spend a lot of money on travelling to hospitals which are far away.
Another advantage of using telemedicine is it helps in fighting stigma.
Wambogo said during a meeting at Ndiru chief's camp in Rangwe constituency that groups that faced stigma such as people living with HIV can be guaranteed that their health records will be kept secret when they consult their doctors remotely.
“Patients who need privacy can seek medication from experts at their comfort. It is one of the ways of promoting confidentiality and reducing stigma.”
Addis Clinic has developed an application where it connects physicians and clinicians in Kenya to other medical experts from other countries.
The organisation pays for consultation and a patient is only required to pay for laboratory and pharmacy services.
“We have also partnered with universities in the US and get their cases discussed through telemedicine,” Wambogo said.
Services from the Addis Clinic are being implemented in six counties in western Kenya, including Migori, Busia, Kisumu and Homa Bay.
Wara said they want to reach patients at the most remote level. He said one of their millstones over the past years is to reduce the number of HIV drug defaulters.
The organisation is using psychosocial councillors who engage patients in talks and remind them about adherence.
“We remind patients when to visit hospital and how to reduce chances of contracting opportunistic infections and achieving 99 per cent viral suppression,” HIV programme manager said.
