The Legal and Policy Issues Arising from the Use of Satellites for Telemedicine Applications in Developing Countries
- Paper number
IAC-07-A1.8.07
- Author
Mr. Ricky J. Lee, Ricky J. Lee & Associates, Australia
- Year
2007
- Abstract
International and domestic telemedicine projects involving the diagnosis and treatment of patients are attracting increasing interest from both public and private sectors as a result of increasing availability and quality of communications technologies at reducing costs. Indeed, international telemedicine has been heralded as the solution to many health problems in developing countries. However, despite much encouragement from the World Health Organisation and the International Telecommunication Union, international policymakers have not resolved the many legal and policy issues arising from the provision of telemedicine services, particularly by satellite technology. This paper will analyse the legal and policy issues arising from international telemedicine by satellite, including costs, liability, technical safeguards, insurance and other regulatory issues. In particular, much focus will be centred on domestic and international telemedicine applications in developing countries and the need for policymakers to balance the need for regulation, the technical capabilities and constrains of satellite communications and the social benefits derived from such applications.
- Abstract document