Advancement of Telehealth Services in Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Introduction Telemedicine or Telehealth services can be in the form of telephone calls, short message service (SMS), chat, and video conferencing, easily accessible and not restricted by time or distance using IT and telecommunication technologies. The appeal of telehealth has expanded practically in all healthcare experiences, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic promoted a need for various healthcare systems throughout the world to reorganize care delivery in a short time frame. This comprised increasing focus on telehealth as well as various digital health solutions, aiming to improve healthcare accessibility, quality, and continuity of care, as well as lessening potential exposures to SARS-CoV-2. Optimally, implementing telemedicine and digital health solutions free up visit time with healthcare professionals and decrease the risk of cross-contamination. Implementing telemedicine can potentially reduce lecturing queue in posted settings and decrease the time it takes to access medical advice.