Identifying Barriers to the Adoption of Telemedicine in Pakistan: Through the lens of National System of Innovation

Abstract

Existing research shows that the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the form of telemedicine and ehealth for healthcare development is a promising approach to improve healthcare access in developing countries with weak healthcare systems. However, despite its potential to address various healthcare barriers, Pakistan has not experienced substantial benefits from telemedicine. This research aims to identify and analyse the barriers within the innovation system that hinder the effective adoption of telemedicine. The research employs a qualitative approach and analyses the data through template analysis. Data is collected from key stakeholders such as doctors, policymakers, telemedicine start-up owners, and analysts through semi-structured interviews to gather insights and recommendations for promoting telemedicine adoption and innovation in Pakistan's healthcare sector. The research findings suggest that technological constraints are not the top barriers to telemedicine adoption in the country. Rather, cultural attitudes towards virtual healthcare, uncoordinated activities among stakeholders, the absence of comprehensive policy development, and the lack of research and telemedicine courses in academia hinder the successful adoption of telemedicine.