Access to quality healthcare should not depend on where a person lives or how far they are from a major hospital. Yet for many citizens, particularly those living in underserved areas, reaching a specialist can mean travelling long distances, spending money on transport and waiting for hours at already overcrowded hospitals. The expansion of government telemedicine centres in Islamabad Capital Territory is therefore a welcome step towards making healthcare more accessible and people-oriented.
Around 14,000 patients have so far received medical consultations through 10 government telemedicine centres established at basic health units and community health centres across different areas of the capital. The first centre was launched in January, and the subsequent expansion of the network indicates that there is a genuine demand for such services.
The importance of this initiative lies not merely in the use of technology but in the way it can change the relationship between citizens and the public healthcare system. Through telephone and video consultations, patients can obtain advice from specialists, including cardiologists and dermatologists, without having to travel to major hospitals. Online prescriptions and the provision of medicines at the centres can make the process even more convenient.
This approach could also help address one of the persistent problems facing public hospitals: overcrowding. Not every patient who visits a large hospital necessarily requires immediate physical examination by a specialist. Many cases can be assessed through an initial consultation and referred to a hospital only when necessary. If properly managed, telemedicine can strengthen the primary healthcare system and allow major hospitals to concentrate on serious and complicated cases.
Another encouraging aspect is the opportunity to make better use of Pakistan’s medical workforce. A significant number of qualified doctors, particularly women, are not currently engaged in active clinical practice for various personal or professional reasons. Remote consultations can provide these doctors with an opportunity to contribute to healthcare delivery from their homes. This can expand the available pool of medical expertise without requiring large investments in new facilities.
However, technology alone cannot solve the country’s healthcare challenges. Telemedicine centres must be equipped with reliable internet connectivity, trained staff, appropriate diagnostic support and a dependable system for referrals. Patients must also be assured that their medical information will remain confidential and that online consultations will be provided only by properly qualified and licensed practitioners.
The government’s Telemedicine Policy provides an important regulatory framework for delivering medical expertise through telecommunications and information technology. Its effective implementation is now crucial. Standards of care, licensing, accountability and patient safety must remain at the centre of the programme.
The partnership with Sehat Kahani and the involvement of the Ministry of National Health Services and District Health Office Islamabad are positive developments. But the real measure of success will be whether the service remains accessible, reliable and responsive over time.
The government should therefore view telemedicine not as a temporary technological project but as a long-term component of primary healthcare reform. The experience of Islamabad can serve as a model for other districts, particularly remote and underserved areas. If expanded carefully and supported with adequate resources, telemedicine can reduce geographical barriers, ease pressure on major hospitals and, most importantly, bring qualified medical advice closer to the people who need it.