Telehealth as a public policy at the primary care level, review article

Abstract

Introduction: This study seeks to substantiate the relevance of two main concepts: telehealth and public policies. In this regard, the theoretical justification focuses on analyzing the relationship between these two elements and their potential application in primary health care. Accordingly, the study aims to contribute to addressing the identified problem through proposals that may lead to sustainable outcomes. Objective: To conduct a literature review of scientific articles in order to confirm the importance of telehealth as a public policy in different countries. Materials and Methods: A review of scientific journals was conducted. Eighteen articles were included from an initial total of 45 studies, which were selected and evaluated according to the PRISMA methodology. The articles were retrieved from databases such as Scopus, SciELO, Dialnet, and PubMed, among others. Results: Several countries are implementing telehealth as part of their public policies, focusing on remote health care delivery. This approach benefits users living in geographically remote areas and contributes to improving the provision of health services. Conclusion: The effective implementation of telehealth as a priority within public policies can ensure the adequate provision of health services to users. Although significant improvements are still required, the development and implementation of this technological tool appear to be progressing in a positive direction.