Communications for remote medicine on show in Singapore

Satellite comms provider Inmarsat has showcased remote healthcare and telemedicine communications technologies at Digital Healthcare Week 2014, held in Singapore this week.

Inmarsat says its portfolio helps to bridge the gap between remote and urban communities by providing the connectivity needed to deploy eHealth solutions that provide healthcare in areas not covered by telecommunications infrastructure.

“The shortage of skilled medical workers and poor healthcare infrastructure prohibits remote and isolated communities from accessing quality healthcare services,” said Nada El Marji, director, NGO business, of Inmarsat. “Although technology applications can help overcome these obstacles, deployment in rural areas is compromised by the lack of terrestrial and cellular communications.”

Inmarsat says its services - BGAN, BGAN Link and IsatHub - are portable, lightweight terminals that enable healthcare workers to connect a remote clinic and access eHealth solutions that can aid in diagnosis and treatment. They also provide access to telemedicine, enabling reliable transmission of a patient’s vital signs in real time to experts anywhere in the world.

“Instant access to a medical specialist during an emergency can save a life,” added El Marji.