Telemedicine offers important prospects for timely delivery of medical services to field-based personnel, often in remote areas.
To explore the potential of telemedicine services for field missions, pilot projects are currently being implemented in several missions.
“Telemedicine is a game changer in terms of the way we manage our patients traditionally,” notes Captain Dr. Zombe Mazimba, Senior Medical Officer, ZAMBATT Level 1 hospital, Birao, United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
Building on the experiences and insights gathered, key stakeholders are meeting at UNGSC’s bases in Valencia, Spain and Brindisi, Italy to discuss strategic objectives, as well as concrete steps for pilot continuity and the eventual mainstreaming of telemedicine across UN field operations.
Through two workshops (21-28 March), implementers from participating pilot missions will acquire knowledge of new technological solutions for telemedicine, as well as the necessary capacity-building skills to train new telemedicine users in the field.
The pilot projects are being funded by extra-budgetary contributions from Member States and are being implemented by the Department of Operational Support, under the Triangular Partnership Programme, which aims to enhance peacekeepers’ capacity in the engineering, medical, intelligence, and security domains.
The Telemedicine Project Team comprises representatives of the Division of Special Activities (DSA), the Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT) and the Division of Healthcare Management and Occupational Safety and Health (DHMOSH).
UNGSC has been pleased to contribute with integral logistics, including technical implementation, training, and support.
The Telemedicine Project is a finalist for the 2023 UN Secretary-General Award in the category "UN 2.0 – Quintet of Change.” To learn more, contact telemedicine@un.org or request access to the Telemedicine Hub, the UN’s central resource centre on the Telemedicine Project.
