The COVID-19 pandemic changed the face of healthcare globally in ways that will remain for years to come. Now, in the post-pandemic era, many practices, including the increased introduction of technology in many areas have become standard within the industry, with both caregivers and patients embracing these changes.
I find it quite commendable that the Government is now actively moving towards digitising healthcare. This is the direction in which the world is going, some faster than others, and certainly the direction in which this country must go. The COVID-19 pandemic, if nothing else, has shown us how health events and an unhealthy population can have significant negative impact on productivity and life as a whole.
COVID-19 has put into stark perspective the importance and usefulness of health technology. Many persons would have used some form of telehealth – knowingly or unknowingly – especially during this period of pandemic. Telemedicine is perhaps one of the most popular forms, but it is only one of many ways that telehealth can be used to ensure continuity of care, especially if a patient is unable to visit a doctor’s office.
It's estimated that at least 25 per cent of Jamaicans have mental illness. Still, we hear that many disorders such as anxiety and depression go undiagnosed, and so when we think about, much more of our population could be experiencing some form of mental illness at points in their life. The Ministry of Health has been moving towards more of a community mental-health approach, allowing patients to be reintegrated into their community after treatment rather than being kept at specialised facilities indefinitely.
