Every rural hospital in New Zealand can now send and receive real-time transmissions of X-rays, ultrasounds and MRI scans, with the completion of a major section of the Government's ultrafast broadband programme (UFB).
The rollout to New Zealand's 39 rural hospitals and integrated health centres has broken down geographic barriers in getting adequate healthcare to rural areas, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said.
Doctors could now also carry out video conferencing with other doctors and even consult with and diagnose patients in isolated areas.
Remote monitoring and online consultations would also lead to a reduction in strenuous patient transfers, and physicians could now connect with distant specialists for real-time guidance in emergency situations, Coleman said.
The UFB rollout was also expected to significantly reduce the time clinicians spent on administration.
"Faster broadband enables healthcare to be delivered in new and innovative ways. These e-Health solutions offer better, safer, more efficient healthcare closer to home," said Coleman.
"A good example of this is Telehealth. This technology enables patients to be seen by their health professional remotely which improves health monitoring, lowers healthcare costs, and gives more flexibility to patients and health professionals.
"Telehealth not only breaks down geographic barriers within New Zealand, but it also enables health practitioners to more easily discuss cases and exchange information with colleagues all over the world."
Communications Minister Amy Adams said the potential for high speed connectivity to improve healthcare was "enormous".
"We've come a long way already in improving rural connectivity under the [Rural Broadband Initiative] and 4G networks, with average internet speeds having tripled since this Government took office, but we want to take that even further."
"That's why this Government recently announced a bold new connectivity target for areas outside the UFB footprint. Under this target virtually all New Zealanders, regardless of where they live or work, will be able to access broadband at peak speeds of at least 50 Mbps by 2025," she said.
The Government set aside $360 million, at the May Budget, to extend UFB and the Rural Broadband Initiative, and to establish a Mobile Black Spot Fund.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Stacey Kirk
Quelle/Source: Stuff, 12.11.2015
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