Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic began, routine doctor visits have become an unnerving task for many patients. This has led to the unusual increase in patients turning to telemedicine services in Asia. In the Philippines, for instance, the number of contactless consultations at KonsultaMD, a 24/7 subscription-based telemedicine service, surged by 450 percent last April.
Telemedicine is defined by the World Health Organization as “the delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities.”
The Philippine Medical Association has issued the Telemedicine: Guidance for Physicians in the Philippines to address how the Covid-19 pandemic has transformed medical practice in the country. It is worth noting that https://atozmarkets.com/brokers/deltamarket/ even before the current pandemic hit, interest in telemedicine was rising. Filipinos today enjoy a high level of digital literacy and mobile adoption, creating the perfect conditions for online medical services to be accepted by locals via their mobile phone.
In an interview with The Manila Times (TMT), Frederic Ho, vice president for Asia-Pacific Jumio Corp., discussed how telemedicine could help fill the gaps in the country’s shortage of health care professionals and overcome the lack of health facilities, especially in remote areas.
TMT: Why is telemedicine a particularly relevant and viable health care option for the Philippines?
HO: Foremost reason is the fact that telemedicine makes health care more accessible to patients with mobility issues or those residing in rural areas. This increased accessibility could be the key to driving early intervention and diagnosis, leading to better long-term outcomes for the patient and lower public health costs.
Patients, especially those residing in rural areas, may be hesitant to consult using new technology. What would it take for patients to get comfortable and be fully on board with telemedicine?
We understand that from the patient’s perspective, there are plenty of practical and emotional considerations before turning to online medical services. First and foremost, patients must be aware of the services offered and feel confident that the quality of care they get would not be compromised. Providers must also educate patients about services and treatments that are ideally suited for telemedicine versus those where an in-person clinical assessment is crucial.
Second, telemedicine services must be easy and convenient for patients to use. Once again, the onus is on health care providers to offer services that cater to a wide base of users with differing digital abilities. This applies particularly to older patients, who have the most to gain from access to remote health care services, but also tend to have the lowest levels of digital literacy.
Finally, to ensure greater trust in telemedicine, patients must also be assured that their medical data is being stored and used securely, and in compliance with local privacy legislation. Health care institutions must not only look into best practices for safeguarding patient information, but also communicate this data security commitment to patients.
TMT: Your company, Jumio Corp., provides facial recognition and artificial intelligence (AI) in its telemedicine service. To tap into your high-tech service, what would be the technology requirements from the side of the doctor and at the end of the patient? Additionally, what would be the minimum requirements so the patient’s records and the online consultation itself would be secure from possible data heist?
HO: Traditionally, the approach to verifying patients’ identities has been to require them to show their IDs over a video call. Unfortunately, this approach is less than ideal since it provides low levels of identity assurance. That is, it may be difficult for a health care administrator to discern between a legitimate government-issued ID and a fake one over a video call. Most practitioners are not trained to identify fake documentation.
This is where “know your patient” (KYP) processes come in. Similar to the banking industry’s “know your customer” process — which enables banks to verify a customer’s identity, assess risk and determine appropriate product offers — KYP is essential for the safe and accurate delivery of digital health care services. KYP leverages sophisticated technologies such as facial biometrics and AI for identity verification, allowing it to be the first line of defense against fraudsters who use stolen or fake identities to see a doctor, gain access to controlled substances or file unlawful insurance claims.
This approach would also enable providers to streamline the online process of telemedicine — from registration to scheduling appointments and filling prescriptions — while complying with existing regulatory guidelines. KYP could also now be conducted securely, allowing doctors to treat patients confidently and confidentially — secure in the knowledge that they have access to the right records. Beyond verifying patients for routine consults and prescription deliveries, KYP could also effectively verify third parties, for example when young children must have a parent or guardian present during consultations or to purchase medication.
TMT: What types of proactive policies would you suggest so the practice of telemedicine, a young industry, as you say could flourish especially in a developing economy like the Philippines?
HO: As with any new industry, governments and market innovators need to work together to better understand the benefits and limitations of telemedicine. This includes establishing best practices and standards of care that prioritize patient welfare and security, but also encourage innovation and ease-of-use.
The Philippines has made great strides in this regard since the start of the pandemic, with the Department of Health (DoH) and the National Privacy Commission having developed a framework for telemedicine services in a bid to improve accessibility to health care during the country’s enhanced community quarantine. Under the framework, the DoH partnered with several telemedicine providers to provide free telemedicine consultations to patients who would be needing medical advice from certified and licensed doctors.
Furthermore, it is important for the public and private sectors to continue collaborating to reimagine every step within the consultation and treatment process. This would help identify any risks and establish best practices early on, ensuring that telemedicine could flourish and positively impact those who need it most.
Just the same, to keep such a young industry nimble, more must be done. The government must implement proactive policies and measures to encourage more health care institutions, such as hospitals and clinics, to transform digitally and revamp their delivery of medical services. More public education campaigns encouraging the adoption of telemedicine and outlining its safety and benefits must also be undertaken.
Jumio is a global leader in AI-powered identity verification and authentication against government-issued IDs (passports, identity cards and drivers’ licenses) from over 200 countries. This is an especially critical function today, as movement restrictions are bringing volumes of critical transactions online, from contact tracing and telemedicine, to financial services and retail.
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