Armenia discusses telemedicine network establishment

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia and Russia negotiate establishment of a united telemedicine network in the RA, compatible with a similar network in the CIS countries.

According to Hrant Khachatryan, radio engineer of Simotech company, if the project is approved, a telemedicine pilot will be launched in Armenia next year. The network will be comprised of 3 fixed (in Yerevan and regions) and 3 mobile nodes, equipped with technology and having satellite communication. The working group of Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on economic cooperation was involved in negotiations.

"Today there are several separate networks of medical institutions in Armenia, but our aim is to unite them into a single system," Hrant Khachatryan said.

According to him, the system will enable to share data, as well as to receive consultations within Armenia and abroad.

Telemedicine is a rapidly developing application of clinical medicine where medical information is transferred through the phone or the Internet and sometimes other networks for the purpose of consulting, and sometimes remote medical procedures or examinations. Telemedicine may be as simple as two health professionals discussing a case over the telephone, or as complex as using satellite technology and videoconferencing equipment to conduct a real-time consultation between medical specialists in two different countries. Telemedicine generally refers to the use of ICT for the delivery of clinical care. Care at a distance (also called in absentia care), is an old practice which was often conducted via post.