Abstract

The use of telehealth is becoming a prevalent feature in clinical practice worldwide, partly because of advances in medical and telecommunications technology. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been a key driver in justifying the accelerated use of telehealth, leading to healthcare practitioners (HCPs) utilising virtual consultations more avidly. Although challenges remain, recent data have shown that remote consultations are feasible, safe and effective in South Africa (SA) and that HCPs should become proficient in conducting telehealth, virtual or remote consultations. These guidelines are based on the revised Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) General Ethical Guidelines for Good Practice in Telehealth (Booklet 10) and guidelines on remote or video consultations from the University of Oxford, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. These guidelines aim to equip HCPs with the basic knowledge and skills pertaining to medicolegal, communication and practical aspects of telehealth and how to practise telehealth safely and effectively in primary care settings in SA during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

MeSH

Telemedicine, Ethics, Communication, Pandemics, Covid-19

Cited by

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• Guidelines and recommendations about virtual mental health services from high-income countries: a rapid review. BMJ Open, 2024
• Bridging the Access Gap: The Telepractice Experience of Speech Therapists and Audiologists at a Public Health Care Facility in South Africa. Int J Telerehabil, 2023
• The Family Doctor in the "COVID-19 Era". Healthcare (Basel), 2025