Telemedicine in north-west Russia

During the last few years, telemedicine based on simple, low-cost technolog y has increased significantly in the Arkhangelsk region of north-west Russi a. Specialists at the regional hospital of Arkhangelsk are diagnosing patie nts from local hospitals 600-700 km from the capital. A still-image system is used for emergency cases. The same technology, along with telephones wit h loudspeakers, is also used to provide distance learning at the regional h ospitals of Arkhangelsk and Tromso. This article describes the results from the telemedicine collaboration between the University Hospital of Tromso a nd health-care institutions in Arkhangelsk, and discusses the experience ga ined.