Ghana’s rural areas face a severe shortage of medical specialists, making remote healthcare a pressing issue. A new initiative aims to bridge this gap with the use of 3D telemedicine technology.
The project, developed by Microsoft in partnership with local doctors and researchers, uses a portable van equipped with computer screens, cameras, and enhanced lighting to provide remote consultations for patients awaiting surgery or after an operation. The system captures a 3D model of each patient and allows multiple doctors to join the consultation session online, manipulating the model to assess the patient.
For Charles Owusu Aseku, a 46-year-old from Ghana who has been searching for care for a keloid on his neck since 2002, this technology is a lifeline. He recently participated in a trial of the system and had consultations with doctors from Rwanda, Scotland, and Brazil, which he described as giving him hope.
The initiative also offers patients the opportunity to receive multiple opinions, as Aseku did during his session. Researchers hope that the trial at Koforidua Regional Hospital is the start of a wider project that could expand the service and explore new use cases.
However, challenges persist, including the lack of stable internet access in remote areas. Dr. Kwame Darko, a consultant plastic surgeon, noted that 3D telemedicine could provide patients with access to multiple doctors during one session, addressing the inadequate number of plastic surgeons available in Ghana’s hospitals.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/health/2025/03/30/how-the-coffee-machine-at-your-workplace-may-be-hurting-your-health-without-you-knowing