Telemedicine (Latin “tele” – distant) briefly described, means providing interactive medical services remotely (at a distance) via use of modern Information and Communications Technologies (ICT).

eHealth is the use, in the health sector, of digital data – transmitted, stored and retrieved electronically – in support of health care, both at the local site and at a distance [World Health Organization].

• Telemedicine and eHealth aim at providing or improving EQUITY, QUALITY, accessibility, and AFFORDABILITY of health care.

• It means ensuring EQUAL & UNIVERSAL ACCESS for everyone to QUALITY HEALTH CARE, regardless of TEMPORAL, SPATIAL, SOCIAL, FINANCIAL, or any other barriers and obstacles.

• Telemedicine and eHealth is NOT a separate medical specialty: rather it is a field of study and practice at the crossroads of technology and medicine. It is A MODERN WAY to provide conventional medical services to patients and communities.

Fig. 1: Typical example of specialized Telemedicine connection or network
[Courtesy TMD Systems; with permission]