背景:2016年,孟加拉国政府(GoB)建立了名为ShasthoBatayon的远程会诊服务,以增加与医生的联系。在COVID-19大流行期间,由于行动限制,获得医疗保健的机会变得有限。作为回应,GoB使ShasthoBatayon免费收费,通过媒体公布了这个数字,增加了呼叫中心医生的数量,引入了关于COVID-19预防措施的自动信息,并开发了一个评分系统来对COVID-19的风险组进行分类。目标和方法:在本案例报告中,我们描述了如何在低收入和中等收入国家利用现有的国家远程咨询服务来满足突发公共卫生事件期间的初级卫生保健需求。我们对2020年1月至4月的ShasthoBatayon服务数据进行了二次分析。结果:在大流行期间,要求医生咨询的总人数有所增加。大流行前,ShasthoBatayon每月接到不到20,000个电话。2020年3月,当第一例COVID-19确诊时,ShasthoBatayon服务收到了60,811个医生咨询电话,4月份增加到125,660个电话,2020年。在所有情况下,医生对初级保健的咨询都有所增加。ShasthoBatayon服务部门在3月和4月筛查了28,944名患有流感样疾病或COVID-19样症状的患者,2020年,提供预防措施,建议,并根据国家指南转诊到指定医院。结论:在COVID-19大流行等突发公共卫生事件中,远程咨询服务可以帮助提供预防指南,揭穿错误信息,确定风险类别,并及时向人们介绍适当的服务和设施。
Background: In 2016, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) established a teleconsultation service called Shastho Batayon to increase access to physicians. During COVID-19 pandemic, health care access became limited due to movement restrictions. In response, GoB made Shastho Batayon toll free, publicized the number through media, increased the number of call center doctors, introduced automated messages on COVID-19 preventive measures, and developed a scoring system to classify risk groups for COVID-19. Objectives and Methods: In this
case report, we describe how an existing national teleconsultation service can be utilized in a low- and middle-income country to address primary health care needs during a public health emergency. We conducted secondary analysis of Shastho Batayon service data from January to April 2020. Results: The total calls for doctor\'s consultation increased during the pandemic. Prepandemic, Shastho Batayon received less than 20,000 calls per month. In March 2020, when the first cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, Shastho Batayon services received 60,811 calls for doctor\'s consultation, which increased to 125,660 calls in April, 2020. The doctor\'s consultation for primary care has increased for all conditions. Shastho Batayon services screened 28,944 patients with the influenza-like illness or COVID-19-like symptoms in March and April, 2020, provided preventive measures, advice, and referral to designated hospitals based on a national guideline. Conclusions: In public health emergencies such as COVID-19 pandemic, teleconsultation services can help provide prevention guidelines, debunk misinformation, identify risk categories, and refer people to appropriate service and facilities in a timely manner.