A Commentary on Telerehabilitation Services in Pakistan: Current Trends and Future Possibilities

Authors

  • Zeshan Zahid COMSATS Institute of Information Technology
  • Suleman Atique Taipei Medical University
  • Muhammad Hammad Saghir University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore
  • Iftikhar Ali Riphah University Islamabad
  • Amna Shahid Punjab University, Lahore
  • Rehan Ali Malik Rawalpindi Medical College

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2017.6224

Abstract

A 2014 World Health Organization (WHO) study reported that almost 27 million people with disability live in Pakistan with fewer than one allied rehabilitation professional per 10,000 people. The current study sought to determine the attitudes toward telerehabilitation via a survey administered to 329 Pakistani rehabilitation professionals. Study results indicate that rehabilitation professionals in Pakistan are knowledgeable about telerehabilitation and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and are receptive to employing telerehabilitation programs and applications. Therefore, we can infer that the future of telerehabilitation can be bright in Pakistan but requires the attention of policy makers and non-government organizations to launch an appropriate program nationwide. The authors suggest that a range of telerehabilitation services (e.g., consultation, assessment, and therapy) could alleviate the shortage of rehabilitation personnel in Pakistan.

  

Author Biographies

Zeshan Zahid, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology

Lecturer of Orthotics & Prosthetics in Rawalpindi Medical College, Sutdent of MS Health Informatics Semester-3 at COMSATS institute of Technology, Islamabad Pakistan

Suleman Atique, Taipei Medical University

PhD candidate at Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics at Taipei Medical University

Muhammad Hammad Saghir, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore

Research officer at department of computer sciences of University of engineering and technology, Lahore

Iftikhar Ali, Riphah University Islamabad

MS Physiotherapy

Amna Shahid, Punjab University, Lahore

MSc in Economics, BSc in Computer Sciences

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Published

2017-06-29

How to Cite

Zahid, Z., Atique, S., Saghir, M. H., Ali, I., Shahid, A., & Malik, R. A. (2017). A Commentary on Telerehabilitation Services in Pakistan: Current Trends and Future Possibilities. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 9(1), 71–76. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2017.6224

Issue

Vol 9, No 1: Spring 2017

Section

Country Report

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