Navigating Telemedicine in the Middle Eastern Countries: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for innovative healthcare solutions to address rapid population growth and healthcare service disparities, especially in resource-constrained settings. Telemedicine, which enables remote patient-provider communication and care, offers great potential to improve accessibility, efficiency, and quality of healthcare delivery. However, its development in Middle Eastern (ME) countries has been relatively slow and insufficiently monitored. This scoping review summarizes recent telemedicine implementations and their associated challenges in ME countries while offering recommendations for policymakers. Methods: A search of Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles published between January 2019 and August 2023 yielded 437 publications, of which 34 were included for data analysis. Study data were categorized using country of origin, study design, data collection methods, study subjects, telemedicine interventions, and major findings. Results: The key insights highlight the need for integrating innovative technologies into healthcare systems, increasing public awareness and education on telemedicine, diversifying research to address regional priorities, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to accelerate telemedicine adoption. Conclusion: In conclusion, while telemedicine has made significant progress in ME countries, ongoing challenges must be addressed to ensure equitable and effective healthcare delivery for all.