On March 16, through a virtual event, four Chilean universities and the National University Network (REUNA), launched the Telemedicine University Network-Chile.
The Universities of Concepción, Chile, Desarrollo and Valparaíso together with REUNA, announced in a virtual conference with more than 100 attendees from different national and international organizations, the creation of the University Network of Telemedicine (RUTE-Chile).
"The purpose of RUTE-Chile is to promote collaboration and synergies between actors of the national and international ecosystem, to accelerate training, research and development in Telemedicine and Telehealth in Chile, with the aim of contributing to the health and welfare of people," explains RUTE-Chile on its website.
Dr. Angelica Avendaño, director of the Telemedicine Unit of the Faculty of Medicine at the Universidad de Concepción, was appointed president of RUTE-Chile. "There is a conviction among all of us who are involved, and who have been working for a long time on this issue, that it is necessary," explained the specialist in Digital Health.
She also said that it is crucial to recognize the importance of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to reduce the gaps and inequalities in access to healthcare, "so that people can improve their access and opportunity to receive timely and quality care, especially when they are in remote areas and do not have access to specialists".
"Telemedicine and telehealth bring with them a series of scientific, economic and social benefits to the countries where they are developed, and for this, the Academic Networks are fundamental, not only by providing the enabling technological base, but also by promoting cooperation between institutions at a global level", explains the RUTE-Chile statement.
In the coming months, RUTE-Chile will provide more information about the collaboration and the addition of more institutions and non-profit organizations to this project. In this way, they seek to develop academic and scientific collaborations related to health that have a high social impact and achieve improvements in people's quality of life.
To learn more about the project and how to get involved, please visit the following link: https://www.rutechile.cl/
