El Salvador begins telemedicine for pregnant women, new mothers, and other priority group

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reported that the government of El Salvador launched telemedicine services for three priority groups: pregnant and post-partum women, children under the age of five, and people requiring mental health care. The initiative is run by the Ministry of Health, with technical and financial support from the UNFPA and the Embassy of Canada in El Salvador. Pregnant women and mothers can reach health professionals, including gynecologists, pediatricians, and general practitioners by dialing 131 on their phone. UNFPA’s representative in El Salvador said that telemedicine offers many potential advantages, such as reduced costs, increasing equity in health, and reduced waiting time to prevent the spread of COVID-19.