What Exactly Is Telemedicine? A Plain Guide for Kenyans

If you have ever sent a photo of a rash to a cousin who is a nurse, or phoned a doctor to ask whether your mother’s new medicine goes before or after food, you have already had a taste of telemedicine. An informal one, perhaps, but the idea is the same: getting health advice without being in the same room.

Formal telemedicine adds what those WhatsApp chats lack: a registered professional, a proper record, privacy protections and clear next steps. Here is what it is, what it can and cannot do, and how to use it wisely.

Telemedicine, telehealth and digital health: what’s the difference?

These three terms are often used as if they mean the same thing. They overlap, but they are not identical.

·         Telemedicine is a clinical consultation at a distance. You and a healthcare professional discuss a health concern by video, phone or message, and the professional assesses, advises and plans your care.

·         Telehealth is broader. It includes telemedicine, plus remote health education, remote monitoring and training health workers at a distance.

·         Digital health is the big umbrella: any use of technology in health. That covers booking apps, electronic records, health information websites, paying for care by M-Pesa, and national systems such as the Kenya Health Information System (KHIS), through which facilities report data.

In short: all telemedicine is digital health, but not all digital health is telemedicine.

The different forms telemedicine takes

Not every online consultation is a video call. Common forms include:

·         Video consultations, useful when the professional needs to see you: your breathing, a swelling, how you move.

·         Voice calls, which work well where data is limited or for people less comfortable on camera.

·         Chat or messaging, sometimes called “asynchronous”, which simply means you send your question and the professional replies later rather than in real time.

·         Sharing photos and documents, such as a clear photo of a skin rash, a lab report or a discharge summary.

·         Remote monitoring, where readings from a home blood pressure machine or glucometer (blood sugar meter) are shared with a clinician over time.

Which forms are available depends on the service and the professional.

Where telemedicine helps most

Telemedicine works best when a careful conversation, rather than a physical examination, is what the situation needs. For example:

·         Follow-ups after an in-person visit: “Is the treatment working?”

·         Chronic condition reviews for presha, sugar or asthma, especially if you can share home readings.

·         Going through lab or scan results you already have.

·         Minor ailments without danger signs, such as a mild cold, mild allergies or some skin concerns with clear photos.

·         Mental health support, including counselling, from a private space.

·         Sexual and reproductive health questions and contraception counselling, where privacy matters.

·         “Where should I go?” advice: whether you need a pharmacist, a clinic, a specialist, a lab or an emergency department.

For older people, parents of young children and anyone living far from specialists, this can save a long and costly trip.

What telemedicine cannot do

Being honest about the limits is part of using it safely.

·         No physical examination. A professional cannot listen to your chest, feel your abdomen or look into your ears through a phone. If they need to, they should ask you to be seen in person.

·         No tests on the spot. Blood tests, X-rays and scans need a lab or facility, although a clinician can request tests and go through the results with you.

·         Not for emergencies. Chest pain, severe difficulty breathing, signs of stroke (face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty), heavy bleeding, fits, serious injuries, or a child who cannot drink, vomits everything or is unusually sleepy all need urgent in-person care. Call 999 or 112, or go to the nearest hospital.

·         Connectivity. Poor network, dropped calls and data costs are real, especially outside the major towns.

A good online consultation sometimes ends with “you need to be seen in person”. That is the system working, not failing.

Telemedicine in Kenya: the rules that protect you

Kenya has specific laws covering this space.

·         The Digital Health Act, 2023 provides a legal framework for digital health, including telehealth and the governance of health data, and established the Digital Health Agency.

·         Registered professionals. The person advising you should be registered with the relevant regulator: the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) for doctors, the Clinical Officers Council for clinical officers, the Nursing Council of Kenya for nurses, and so on. Being online doesn’t change that.

·         The Data Protection Act, 2019 treats health data as sensitive personal data. The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) oversees compliance.

·         Your rights still apply. The Ministry of Health’s Patients’ Rights Charter, including access to information, informed consent and confidentiality, matters whether you are in a consulting room or on a call.

Five questions to ask any telemedicine service

1.       Who will I be speaking to, and are they registered? You should know their name, their profession and their regulator.

2.       What can this service handle, and what happens if I need to be seen in person?

3.       What will it cost, and what does that include? Ask about follow-ups, and what happens if the call drops.

4.       How is my information stored, and who can see it?

5.       What happens after the consultation? Ask about records, prescriptions, lab requests and follow-up.

A trustworthy service will answer all five clearly. For a walk-through of the call itself, see What Happens During an Online Consultation?

Frequently asked questions

Is telemedicine legal in Kenya?

Yes. The Digital Health Act, 2023 provides a legal framework for digital health, including telehealth. Professionals must still be registered and follow their regulators’ standards.

Can I get a prescription after an online consultation?

Sometimes, if the professional judges it safe and appropriate. Some concerns need an examination or tests first. Antibiotics are prescription-only medicines in Kenya, and a responsible clinician will not prescribe them for colds or flu, which are usually caused by viruses.

Do I need a smartphone?

Not always. Many concerns can be handled by a voice call, although video or photos help for some. Ask the service what it supports.

Is telemedicine only for minor problems?

No. It is also useful for chronic condition follow-up, results and mental health support. But it is never the right route for an emergency.

Key takeaways

·         Telemedicine is a consultation with a healthcare professional at a distance, by video, voice, chat or shared photos and results.

·         It works well for follow-ups, chronic care reviews, results, mild concerns, mental health and “where should I go?” questions.

·         It cannot replace a physical examination, tests or emergency care.

·         Kenya’s Digital Health Act, 2023 and Data Protection Act, 2019 set the ground rules, and professionals must be registered.

·         Before using any service, ask who you’ll speak to, what it costs, how your data is protected and what happens next.

Try it for the right reasons

The best time to learn how telemedicine works is before you need it. On askremohealth.com, you can search for healthcare professionals, read their profiles, and book an online consultation where one is offered for your concern, or book an in-person visit when that is what you need. Not ready to talk to anyone yet? Ask your question anonymously in the AskRemoHealth community.

Healthcare professionals and facilities that offer consultations can list on AskRemoHealth to reach patients looking for the right care.