A member of the Jordan Medical Association (JMA), Dr. Hazem Al-Qarala, Tuesday said that telemedicine is not a substitute for a doctor’s visit.

He justified his statement saying that while some medical conditions can be managed and treated through telemedicine, they are limited and many require patients to be physically present at the clinic.

He pointed out that the term "telemedicine" is not new, and many countries have been practicing it for some time.

There must be a proper electronic medical documentation system in place for the successful implementation of telemedicine, he said.  It is useful in certain cases and for specific services, he added.

Qarala told Roya that the term was coined during the coronavirus pandemic, due to the widespread of medical consultation and treatment through online platforms.

He warned that some of these services are provided without control or consideration of the principles of medicine.

He pointed out the need for certain infrastructure, electronic devices and specialized websites for telemedicine to be successful in the Kingdom.

He continued saying there must be proper medical documentation and an online database that can be accessed and referred to by doctors across the Kingdom.

Qarala noted that the current online platforms that work with telemedicine are appreciated and contribute to the dissemination of medical information, but are not as reliable as needed to achieve the ultimate goal.