Telehealth as a public health approach to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan: A narrative review

Abstract

Technology is instrumental in delivering health services, especially telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article aimed to explore the role of telehealth as a public health approach to support responses to address the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. We developed this article by mapping existing telehealth initiatives developed and implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. The initiatives were identified searching online portals such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and websites of various governmental and non-governmental agencies. The services are categorized into teleconsultation and follow-ups, online vaccine registration, information dissemination, high-risk subset tracking, virtual Health Care Worker (HCW) and medical student training, and tele-psychological counseling. The teleconsultation category offers online registration and follow-ups. Information dissemination services include federal helpline, SMS alerts, and social media campaigns. The high-risk subset tracking services include app-based COVID-19 checks and online surveys. Virtual HCW and medical student training services include tele-ICU support, COVID-19 critical care courses, and COVID management courses. The tele-psychological counseling services offer helplines for emotional support, proactive counseling for COVID-19 patients, and mental health support and psychiatry services. Telehealth interventions provided novel solutions amid health and social crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care systems need to expand telehealth services and ensure that health care organizations deliver effective and safe medical care. However, future research should focus on assessing the impact of telehealth on population health.