During the workshop, the Community of Sant’Egidio presented findings from a survey underscoring the need to establish the first national telemedicine platform in Mozambique. This platform is envisioned as a critical tool to structure and organize all medical initiatives and activities in the country, facilitating access to specialized care and optimizing available human and technological resources.

Dr. Suahle Rafael, the National Director for the Training of Health Professionals, emphasized, “All the conditions are in place to develop and soon deploy an important tool for providing medical assistance to users and providers within the national health system.” Representing the Italian Agency, Dr. Élio Giombini remarked, “Italy supports Mozambique through ProSaúde, but also through projects like this one focusing on training and telemedicine. These initiatives showcase the excellent bilateral relations between the Italian and Mozambican governments and will undoubtedly contribute to improving the quality of life for the population.”

The workshop included participation from representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), USAID, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), JHPIEGO, I-Tech, as well as national and multinational companies such as TotalEnergies and ENI, which are actively involved in telemedicine initiatives and the provision of medical equipment. Other partners were also present.

Technical recommendations for implementing a pilot telemedicine platform were discussed, with plans to integrate it into the regional Digital Health strategy. The pilot project will serve as a foundation for developing the National Strategic Plan for Digital Health, Telemedicine, and Teleassistance, which will be formulated through a multi-sectoral approach over the course of the project.

For more information about the project, visit the dedicated page via this LINK.