Luanda - The telemedicine service is already operational in six of the country's 18 provinces, covering 42 hospitals, including provincial and municipal hospitals.
Telemedicine is operational in the provinces of Luanda, Lunda-Sul, Huambo, Moxico, Uíge and Huíla, for medical services and distance training, from the Angolan satellite ANGOSAT-2, according to an INFRASAT press release, distributed on Monday to ANGOP in Luanda.
The note states that the project to implement telemedicine centers is a multisectoral initiative that aims to expand basic health services and care to the most remote areas of the country.
Telemedicine in Angola has been a valuable tool to improve access to healthcare, connecting patients to doctors in real time and optimizing resources with unlimited communications data, the document said.
Distribution by provinces
According to the note, in Luanda, the services are available at the David Bernardino, Josina Machel, Prenda hospitals, the Catete Municipal Hospital, the Quissama Municipal Hospital, the Lucrécia Paim Maternity Hospital and the Américo Boavida Hospital undergoing rehabilitation and currently operating at “Dom Emílio de Carvalho” Viana General Hospital.
In Lunda-Sul, they are installed in the municipal hospitals of Dala, Cacolo, Muconda, Hospital Geral da Lunda-Sul and the Provincial Maternity.
In the province of Huambo, telemedicine is present at the Huambo Central Hospital, in the municipalities of Caala, Bailundo, Mungo, Longonjo, Ekunha, Tchicala Tcholoanga, Londuimbale, Ucuma, Catchiungo and at the Chinjenje Municipal Hospital.
In Moxico province, these services are available at the Provincial General Hospital, the municipal hospitals of Bundas, Camanongue, Léua, Luacano, Luau, Luachazes, Lumege and the Municipal Hospital of Alto Zambeze.
In the province of Uíge, the telemedicine service is operational at the General Hospital, in the municipalities of Uíge, Catepa, Negage, Sanza Pombo, Maquela do Zombo and Quimbele.
Huíla benefits from the service at the Lubango Central Hospital, in the municipalities of Jamba, Caconda and at the Huíla Maternity Hospital.
The technological connectivity infrastructure is guaranteed by the Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication, (MINTTICS), through INFRASAT, and operationalized by the Ministry of Health (MINSA), through the installed telemedicine centers.
According to the document, the use of information and communication technologies in the service of medicine is a positive experience, particularly in remote areas and with limited access to traditional medical services.
This has allowed citizens to have access to medical consultations, diagnoses and treatments without the need for physical travel, through video calls or online platforms.
“Patients can have a medical visit with doctors and other health specialists, especially useful for non-emergency cases, monitoring chronic diseases and general health guidelines”, the document reads.
INFRASAT is a company supervised by the Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technology and Social Communication. OPF/OHA/DOJ
