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Virtual Doctors Team Feature on National News

The Virtual Doctors Reaffirms Commitment to Zambia’s Healthcare System 



The Virtual Doctors organisation has once again demonstrated its firm commitment to supporting Zambia’s Ministry of Health by providing essential medical expertise to clinical officers in partnership with the ministry. the Virtual Doctors provides a unique and free service connecting remote healthcare workers with a panel of medical doctors who provide diagnosis and treatment advice.  


In a recent interview with KBN TV News, Huw Jones, President and Founder of Virtual Doctors, emphasised the organisation’s mission to supporting clinicians to treat more patients within their communities. By doing so, the organisation helps reduce unnecessary referrals to secondary healthcare facilities. Mr. Jones highlighted the organisation's consistent efforts over the past 17 years to enhance the skills and knowledge of frontline healthcare workers in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. 





During the same interview, Executive Director James Phiri announced the launch of a newly enhanced mobile application designed to simplify case submissions for clinical officers. Mr. Phiri noted that one of the Ministry's key requests was to expedite case referrals through a system integrated within the Ministry's framework.


“The updated app now allows cases to be referred not only at district, provincial, and national levels but also internationally to volunteer doctors abroad, further improving access to expert care,” he said. 

Wilson Mooba, Project Lead at Virtual Doctors, further explained the onboarding process for new clinics. In line with the initial Memorandum of Understanding, the District Health Office (DHO) identifies eligible clinics, whose staff are then trained to use the mobile app.


Once trained, the clinics are fully integrated into the telemedicine service, ensuring that clinical officers can efficiently access medical advice for complex cases. It is important to note that the service provides diagnostic and treatment advice to Clinical Officers. It is not a service that links patients to doctors. 


In addition to its telemedicine initiatives, Medical Director Daniel Grace shared that Virtual Doctors had embarked on the Livingstone Revisited expedition, an effort to better understand the needs of the Health Workers supported by the service. This expedition included specialised training sessions, such as a trauma training pilot, which were conducted in Chitambo, Mambwe, and Siavonga Districts.  



Reflecting on the organisation's 17-year journey, Huw Jones expressed pride in the progress made.

“When we hear feedback from clinical officers on their improved ability to handle complex cases, it’s incredibly satisfying. It makes all the work worthwhile”

Jones reaffirmed Virtual Doctors' commitment to evolving its system to meet both the needs of clinical officers and the Zambian government, ensuring the organisation’s impact continues for as long as necessary. 


The Virtual Doctors services is entirely supported by Volunteer Doctors and welcomes the participation of more HPCZ registered Zambian doctors on its platform as the service continues to expand to more clinics.  


The Virtual Doctors remains dedicated to supporting the MoH strategic objectives for improving healthcare outcomes in Zambia, focusing on innovation, collaboration, and sustainable long-term support. 


Original article on KBN News

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