TELEMEDICINE: LAGOS TO PROVIDE PRACTITIONERS WITH STANDARD GUIDELINES

… Moves to Regulate Telemedicine Practice
… As Stakeholders Discuss Telemedicine Strategies, Regulations 
 
At the recent Lagos State Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency’s (HEFAMAA) Telemedicine Standards Validation Meeting, the Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi presented a comprehensive overview of telemedicine’s evolving landscape and its various deployment strategies.
 
Highlighting the rapid evolution of technology, particularly in healthcare, the Commissioner emphasised the need for diverse telemedicine methods. “Lagos State responded to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak by effectively managing patient diagnoses through a detailed telemedicine strategy. This allowed remote monitoring of patients at home or in hotels, ensuring timely interventions and medication dispatch, especially for those showing signs of deterioration”, he said.
 
Underlining the importance of local regulation and governance, the Commissioner stressed the necessity to monitor and track telemedicine’s impact on citizens within the state. He raised concerns about regulating remote care provided internationally from various parts of the world. 

Emphasising multiple aspects of telemedicine such as infrastructure, monitoring consultants’ qualifications, clinical governance, continuum of care and data protection, Abayomi noted the State Government’s commitment to ensuring citizens’ data security in virtual consultations, showcasing previous compliance achievements in data protection regulations.
 
The Commissioner also outlined various payment options including out-of-pocket, insurance-based, government-subsidised, and inclusion in insurance service packages.
 
Speaking on unauthorised telemedicine practices, he assured swift regulatory action based on information collected from various sources, including citizens’ reports and healthcare facilities.
 
The Commissioner outlined ongoing efforts to establish a policy framework and roadmap, eventually leading to legislative measures, considering the rapidly evolving telemedicine landscape.
 
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, hailed the emergence and widespread adoption of telemedicine as a revolutionary opportunity in healthcare delivery. She commended the present administration for spearheading innovative measures to bolster citizen well-being through groundbreaking technological advancements. 
 
Highlighting the focus on telemedicine standards, she pointed out their alignment with local healthcare needs, regulatory frameworks, and the diverse expectations of the communities served.
  
Chairman of the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), Dr. Yemisi Solanke-Koya, underscored the transformative power of telemedicine, emphasising its role in overcoming barriers and ensuring access to healthcare services, especially during crises when physical distances present challenges.
 
She noted that the meeting aims to establish validated telemedicine standards that uphold excellence and accessibility in healthcare provision while maintaining the highest patient care standards.
  
Executive Secretary of HEFAMAA, Dr. Abiola Idowu reflected on the origins of the telemedicine standards validation journey since 2021.
 
While acknowledging the emergence of technology-driven healthcare services without adequate regulation, Dr. Idowu underscored the rapid evolution of the technologies, necessitating a vital need for regulatory frameworks and the importance of collaborative efforts. 
 
She disclosed that HEFAMAA engaged various stakeholders within and beyond the healthcare sector, fostering collaborations with entities such as the Corporate Affairs Commission, the National Data Protection Authority, and network providers, adding that these collaborations aimed to create comprehensive guidelines ensuring effective regulation of telemedicine practices.
 
She noted that the Telemedicine guidelines serve as a benchmark against which clinical services can be measured and a framework for existing facilities to review and improve their service provision to maintain the safety and quality of service to patients and provide an environment conducive to the staff.
 
Dr. Idowu expressed gratitude to the expert contributors who had been instrumental in formulating these standards, noting that the meeting served as a platform to review and validate these standards, setting the stage for their implementation. 
 
She emphasised the ultimate objective to ensure the safety and well-being of patients in Lagos State by providing practitioners with standardised guidelines for telemedicine practice.
 
The meeting reiterated the government’s commitment to regulating telemedicine while ensuring citizens’ safety and access to quality healthcare in a highly digitalized healthcare era.

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