Telemedicine in the Fight Against Pandemic Covid-19 Effectiveness, Risks and Prospects

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a global challenge to healthcare systems, revealing their vulnerability in the face of mass infection and resource scarcity. One of the key solutions was the introduction of telemedicine, which provided remote interaction between doctors and patients, while preserving access to care. The aim of this study is to analyse the effectiveness of telemedicine technologies during the pandemic, assess potential risks and determine the prospects for the development of digital medicine in the post-pandemic era. Based on a comparative analysis of data on the number of referrals, hospitalisations and patient satisfaction, it was found that telemedicine allowed not only to reduce the burden on hospitals, but also to maintain continuity of treatment of chronic diseases. At the same time, risks associated with limited access to technology and reduced quality of diagnostics in the absence of face-to-face examination was identified. Prospects for telemedicine include its further integration into national health care systems, subject to regulatory and technical improvements.