Geographic distribution of telemedicine in Brazil from ambulatory production

• Autor(a) principal: Silva, Guilherme Ferreira Santos
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Silva, Lara Thaís Prates e, Gasparino, Flávia Figueiredo, Alkimim, Esley Ruas, Sousa, Árlen Almeida Duarte de
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Research, Society and Development
• Texto Completo: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/35982
• topic: Telemedicina; Telessaúde; Políticas de Saúde.; Telemedicina; Telesalud; Políticas de Salud.; Telemedicine; Telehealth; Health Policies.

Objective: To analyze the offer of telemedicine based on outpatient production in different Brazilian regional scenarios through public funding. Method: Documentary research based on data made available by the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS) between the years 2020 to 2022. The codes used in the searches were: 0301010315; 0301010307; and 0301010220. The data collected refer exclusively to the application of telemedicine in the Unified Health System. Search results were manually entered into the Google Sheets tool and descriptively analyzed. The term telemedicine was used as a synonym for teleconsultation and/or teleservice and was not restricted to medical activity, except when duly indicated. Results: Code 03010100315: 982,117 telephone calls [Southeast (71.26%); Northeast (12.35%); South (10.45%); Midwest (5.10%); North (0.84%)]; total cost: R$ 6.18 million; unit value of R$ 6.30. Code 0301010307: 386,746 teleconsultations [Southeast (78.03%); South (15.45%); Midwest (2.40%); Northeast (2.34%); North (1.78%)]; total cost: R$ 3.86 million; unit value: R$ 9.99. Code 0301010220: Unpublished data. Conclusion: Telemedicine faces technical and infrastructure difficulties, which prevent its full amplification in the national territory. It is important to adapt the execution of the modality to the reality and to the public to which it will be aimed, in addition to training the population and health professionals.