Digital Infrastructure Readiness in Supporting National Telehealth Services: A Comprehensive Review

Authors

  • Yumi Abimulyani Poltekkes Kemenkes Jayapura Author
  • Suratno Kaluku Poltekkes Kemenkes Maluku Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62872/s1gzez67

Keywords:

Digital Infrastructure, Telehealth, Telemedicine, Digital Health, Healthcare Accessibility, Digital Divide

Abstract

The readiness of digital infrastructure is crucial for supporting effective national telehealth services, particularly in developing countries and remote areas. This comprehensive review examines the key factors influencing digital infrastructure readiness, including policy and regulation, connectivity and devices, digital competency and literacy, and equity of access. Through a systematic literature review of 21 scholarly publications from 2020 to 2025, this study identifies critical challenges in telehealth implementation, including infrastructure limitations, lack of trained human resources, regulatory barriers, and digital divides. The findings reveal that successful national telehealth implementation depends heavily on robust digital infrastructure, supportive policies, digital literacy, and equitable access. This research recommends strategic investments in infrastructure development, human resource training, adaptive policies, and inclusive technological solutions to ensure telehealth can truly expand access and improve healthcare service quality. The study contributes to both theoretical understanding and practical implementation of telehealth systems in resource-constrained settings

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ahmad, R., Salah, K., Jayaraman, R., Yaqoob, I., Ellahham, S., & Omar, M. (2020). The role of blockchain technology in telehealth and telemedicine. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 148, 104399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2021.104399

Baumgart, D. (2020). Digital advantage in the COVID-19 response: perspective from Canada's largest integrated digitalized healthcare system. NPJ Digital Medicine, 3. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-020-00326-y

Chakraborty, I., Edirippulige, S., & Ilavarasan, P. (2023). The role of telehealth startups in healthcare service delivery: A systematic review. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 174, 105048. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2023.105048

Getachew, E., Woldeamanuel, Y., & Manyazewal, T. (2022). Capacity and Readiness Assessment of Healthcare Facilities for Digital Health Interventions Against Tuberculosis and HIV in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Frontiers in Digital Health, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2022.821390

Gil-Salmerón, A., Valejo, A., Aldasoro, E., Mora, M., Van Eenennaam, F., Barbastro, R., Pérez, S., Buijs, S., & Cunha, V. (2025). Assessing Readiness for Integrated Telerehabilitation Care: A Comparative Study in Ireland, Portugal, and Spain. International Journal of Integrated Care. https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.icic24261

Hasan, H., Salah, K., Jayaraman, R., Yaqoob, I., Omar, M., & Ellahham, S. (2021). Blockchain-Enabled Telehealth Services Using Smart Contracts. IEEE Access, 9, 151944-151959. https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2021.3126025

Hirko, K., Kerver, J., Ford, S., Szafranski, C., Beckett, J., Kitchen, C., & Wendling, A. (2020). Telehealth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for rural health disparities. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 27(11), 1816-1818. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocaa156

Hui, C., Abdulla, A., Ahmed, Z., Goel, H., Habib, G., Hock, T., Khandakr, P., Mahmood, H., Nautiyal, A., Nurmansyah, M., Panwar, S., Patil, R., Rinawan, F., Salim, H., Satav, A., Shah, J., Shukla, A., Tanim, C., Balharry, D., & Pinnock, H. (2022). Mapping national information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure to the requirements of potential digital health interventions in low- and middle-income countries. Journal of Global Health, 12, 04094. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.12.04094

Jnr., B. (2020). Implications of telehealth and digital care solutions during COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative literature review. Informatics for Health and Social Care, 46(1), 68-83. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538157.2020.1839467

Jnr., B. (2023). Investigating the implementation of telehealth and digital technologies during public health crisis: A qualitative review. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 38(6), 1662-1685. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpm.3681

Jonnagaddala, J., Godinho, M., & Liaw, S. (2021). From telehealth to virtual primary care in Australia? A Rapid scoping review. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 151, 104470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2021.104470

Kobeissi, M., & Hickey, J. (2023). An Infrastructure to Provide Safer, Higher-Quality, and More Equitable Telehealth. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 49(4), 213-222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjq.2023.01.006

Le, T., Galperin, H., & Traube, D. (2023). The impact of digital competence on telehealth utilization. Health Policy and Technology, 12(2), 100724. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlpt.2023.100724

Mathew, S., Fitts, M., Liddle, Z., Bourke, L., Campbell, N., Murakami-Gold, L., Russell, D., Humphreys, J., Mullholand, E., Zhao, Y., Jones, M., Boffa, J., Ramjan, M., Tangey, A., Schultz, R., & Wakerman, J. (2023). Telehealth in remote Australia: a supplementary tool or an alternative model of care replacing face-to-face consultations? BMC Health Services Research, 23, 167. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09265-2

Poonsuph, R. (2022). The Design Blueprint for a Large-Scale Telehealth Platform. International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications, 2022, 8486508. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/8486508

Scott, B., Miller, G., Fonda, S., Yeaw, R., Gaudaen, J., Pavliscsak, H., Quinn, M., & Pamplin, J. (2020). Advanced Digital Health Technologies for COVID-19 and Future Emergencies. Telemedicine and e-Health, 26(10), 1226-1233. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2020.0140

Tomoh, B., Mustapha, A., Mbata, A., Kelvin-Agwu, M., Forkuo, A., & Kolawole, T. (2025). Assessing the impact of telehealth interventions on rural healthcare accessibility: a quantitative study. International Journal of Applied Research in Social Sciences, 7(3), 711-736. https://doi.org/10.51594/ijarss.v7i3.1861

Torous, J., Myrick, K., Rauseo-Ricupero, N., & Firth, J. (2020). Digital Mental Health and COVID-19: Using Technology Today to Accelerate the Curve on Access and Quality Tomorrow. JMIR Mental Health, 7(3), e18848. https://doi.org/10.2196/18848

Van Cleave, J., Stille, C., & Hall, D. (2022). Child Health, Vulnerability, and Complexity: Use of Telehealth to Enhance Care for Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs. Academic Pediatrics, 22(2S), S34-S40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2021.10.010

Ye, J., He, L., & Beestrum, M. (2023). Implications for implementation and adoption of telehealth in developing countries: a systematic review of China's practices and experiences. NPJ Digital Medicine, 6, 174. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-023-00908-6

Downloads

Published

2025-10-25

How to Cite

Digital Infrastructure Readiness in Supporting National Telehealth Services: A Comprehensive Review. (2025). Oshada, 2(5), 152-162. https://doi.org/10.62872/s1gzez67

Similar Articles

81-90 of 112

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.