Updated guidelines on telemedicine – a step in the right direction

Abstract

In an article published in the March 2019 SAMJ, I outlined the shortcomings of the current telemedicine guidelines – specifically, the problem that a healthcare practitioner is prevented from having a virtual consultation with a patient if another medical professional is not physically present with the patient as well. The current COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown in South Africa (SA) has resulted in the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) changing the guidelines drastically. This has been done for the safety of both practitioners and patients.