The Adoption and Impact of Telemedicine on Health Equity: A Narrative Review From the Jamaican Context

Telemedicine rose to popularity during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic but is yet to be fully developed. Hence, this study explores the current status of telehealth in Jamaica, looking at its benefits, challenges with its implementation, the regulatory landscape, and solutions to using this technology. Due to the limited research on this topic, a majority of the sources utilized were gray literature with qualitative and quantitative studies. This review seeks to transform policy and practice, promoting telemedicine as a feasible solution for improving Jamaica's healthcare quality and access. By comparing telemedicine in Jamaica to a more developed nation like the United States, the review highlights not only benefits but also major challenges, including healthcare disparities due to the digital divide, less advanced technology, privacy breaches, and significant financing required for telemedicine infrastructure, among other barriers to its integration. The analysis advocates for improvement in various areas, such as cybersecurity measures, advanced training for healthcare professionals, further investments in technological infrastructure, refinement of regulatory frameworks and policies, and incorporation of community-based initiatives. This investigation further highlights the need for additional research to gain insights and a broader perspective.