Basic Primary Healthcare Telemedicine for Ordinary Afghans.

Research Test Project.

AHC is an experimental, social impact, non-profit, test project, assessing the impact and deliverability of remote telemedicine in Afghanistan.

After decades of conflict,  no state health services and international aid sanctions, the people of Afghanistan have no consistent, universal, basic, assessible health service.

Women and girls, particularly in rural and remote areas, experience lack of access to basic healthcare in Afghanistan, which has been isolated by the international community. AHC is utilising tech, mobile and networks to solve this problem, positively impacting health for ordinary people.

Healthcare is a fundamental human right and should be available for everyone.

FAQs

Q. What is the AccessHealth Project?

This is an experimental project to test the practical feasibility of providing international, remote and, accessible general health advice for ordinary people in Afghanistan.

Q. Who is organising this?

This is an experimental feasibility, non-profit project run by individuals from the medical, impact venture space and social enterprise space, with advice from leading academics and practitioners, some of whom are British Afghans and have been inspired by the NHS, with the purpose of giving back and democratising healthcare for ordinary Afghans (including women and girls).

Q. Are you associated/affiliated with any medical organisations or bodies?

This is an experimental project; everyone involved with it is doing so voluntarily and with the understanding that it is currently informal, for this reason we are not officially affiliated with any other medical organisations, although we are consulting with many experts and practitioners who are affiliated with British medical organisations and bodies.

Q. Who can Volunteer?

• Experienced medics
• Newly qualified doctors
• Final year medical students
• Pharmacists with additional qualifications

Q. Do you provide any insurance cover?

This is a volunteer led experimental project, as such both practitioners and patients will agree to a statement to protect both parties, therefore negating the requirement for insurance

Q. Is there a minimum number of hours that I can volunteer?

We ask for a minimum of 1-2 hours for the duration of a ‘remote clinic’

Q. How do the patients find out about the ‘clinic’?

Patients are made aware of the remote clinic through an informal network of medical professionals and educators on the ground in Afghanistan. Patients then contact the AccessHealth Project directly to register and make an appointment.

Q. What medium of communication do you use?

We use an easily downloadable messaging apps called ‘Telegram’ and 'Session' which are highly secure . This allows private and confidential ‘group chats’ between Volunteer Medic, Interpreter and Patient.

Q. How will the ‘consultation’ take place?

The Volunteer Medic will be shown a History & Symptoms Form, completed by the patient, in advance of the appointment. The answers to these questions will be transferred to the volunteer medic, the volunteer medic will then be connected to the patient for a voice call. The ‘patient’ will only mention one health condition per consultation.

Q. How long will each ‘consultation’ take?

Each consultation will take 15 minutes, if an interpreter is not required. A consultation in which an interpreter is required, will take 20 minutes.

Q. Will video calls be possible in cases where something needs visual diagnosis?

Where possible and appropriate and agreeable to all parties video calls will be facilitated. Where this is not possible, images of conditions may be provided. In many cases, this will not be possible due to socio-economic & technical reasons; internet connectivity, cost, smartphone/device access.

Q. Can volunteers access previous medical records?

Where records are available and patients are agreeable, images of medical records can be provided; this will only be done in cases where it is deemed necessary or at least very useful/helpful in cases of long term illnesses or unresolved complaints. These records will only be available for the duration of the ‘clinic’ and cannot be shared with anyone outside of the remit of the project, for privacy and confidentiality reasons.

Q. Who will translate in cases where it is needed?

Volunteer Interpreters are involved with the project, supporting the patients and Volunteer Medics, during the appointments.

Q. Beyond diagnosis, what is the purpose of the ‘remote clinics’? Will we be able to prescribe, or refer or request further tests and follow up?

The desired outcome of each ‘patient consultation’ could be any of the options mentioned; reassurance/diagnosis/prescription for medication/referral for further tests or treatment where possible. It is understood by all involved that this is a voluntary experimental test project at this stage.

Q. At the end of the consultation, where it is appropriate, a text message will be sent to the patient (written by the Volunteer Medic and translated by the Volunteer Interpreter) with any of the following outcomes:

• Reassurance
• Diagnosis of medical condition with either prescription details and/or lifestyle advice
• Referral for further tests with or without follow up request.
• Referral for further medical intervention.
• Request for follow up ‘consultation’; this will be arranged by our admin volunteers. Follow up ‘consultation’ can occur with any of our volunteer medics.

Q. What happens if I am unable to attend an agreed ‘clinic’?

We request 48hours notice of cancellation in order to arrange alternative cover.

Q. Will we be financially compensated for my time?

This is an experimental test project and as such it is run for free for the patients, at no charge. Hence, there is no consultation fee for the Volunteer Medics for the project.

Q. Will there be any other recognition or reward for my time?

This is an experimental project and as such recognition or reward is limited, however if you are agreeable we can mention you as a Volunteer Medic on our website, in our future Press Releases, social media and media appearances.

Volunteer Medic Statement:

This is an experimental project. You are volunteering to provide general medical advice remotely, to test the practical feasibility of such a service. You understand and agree that you have a duty of care to ‘patients’ that you consult with. You understand and agree to uphold the highest possible level of professionalism. You understand and accept the inevitable limitations of a remote clinic and the challenges of supporting patients in a war torn, developing country. You understand and agree to the Statement* which the patients have agreed to, in order to participate in the project.

Remote clinic instructions for the Patients: 

• Have the Telegram App’ ready on your phone, in advance.
• Go online 10 minutes before your given appointment time 
• Only one health condition per consultation.
• Appointment time slot of 15 or 20minutes (if interpreter required).
• No background noise or interruptions please.
• Send any recent medical investigation/test documents in advance.
• Consultation will be in Audio, unless video is required (in which case, this must be organised in advance when the meeting is booked)
• You consent to sharing your medical history with our team (which will be kept private).
• General relevant medical advice will be provided, based upon your health condition. 
• 48-hour notice is required if you want to reschedule or cancel your appointment. 
• If the Volunteer Medic issues a prescription or asks for scans or laboratory tests, patients can go to the facility of their choice locally for this purpose.

Patient *Statement:

By agreeing to be part of this experimental test project you understand and agree to the inevitable limitations of remote medical consultations. You understand and agree that the volunteer medic is not legally liable, but does have a duty of care. You understand and agree that Volunteer Medics agree and commit to having a duty of care without legal repercussions. You understand and agree that in the case of prescriptions being provided, you are liable to acquire and pay for those medications. You understand and agree that if further tests are required, you are liable to seek out and pay for these tests. You understand and agree that where referral is made for further treatment, you are liable to seek out and pay for this treatment outside the scope of this project.