Telemedicine as a tool for improving human security - Environmental and Human Security in the Arctic - page 153

Telemedicine as a tool for
improving human security

Line Linstad

The delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by
all health care professionals using information and communication tech-
nologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment
and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for
the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interests of
advancing the health of individuals and their communities.

(WHO 1998:10)

Introduction
Information and communications technology (ICT) has changed and will
continue to change our communication patterns. It is a tool that makes the
world 'smaller' and increases our access to information and services on a truly
global scale. The potential exists for increasing and broadening people's access
to healthcare services and information. From an Arctic human security per-
spective, telemedicine can be seen as a tool that could increase the personal
well-being of Arctic peoples, both within the individual states composing
the Arctic, but also across the region. This chapter aims to define and explore
the assumptions that, if met, would place telemedicine in the human security
framework as a tool that can serve to operationalize the human security con-
cept. The main assumptions that I have made are that:

1 Health security today is closely linked to the state;

2 Counter-intuitively, it is probably easier to develop international coop-

eration on health matters that are not directly linked to the process of
diagnosing and treating patients;

3 Health security is one of several sectors that comprise a 'web of security'

in a region;

4 The national health legislation and the national reimbursement systems

may often constrain the development of regional healthcare services;

5 Telemedicine can be used as a tool to enhance health security in the Arctic

region.