The Mannheim Medical Faculty is expanding its telemedicine network for liver diseases in South America: After the launch of the construction of a digital hepatology center in Colombia in December 2023 with the University of Antioquia in Medellin, the Mannheim Medical Faculty is now entering into a new clinical partnership with the Hospital de Clinicas in San Lorenzo, Paraguay. The cooperation is funded by the Clinical Partnerships Global program of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and led by Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Teufel, Head of the Hepatology Section of the II. Medical Clinic at the University Medical Center Mannheim (UMM). The initiative aims to provide all patients with liver diseases with access to specialized medical services, regardless of their geographical place of residence, in a country where access to specialized healthcare – especially in rural areas – is limited. The aim is to bridge the existing gap between care in urban health centers and remote, medically underserved locations in Paraguay. The goals of the project are aligned with the national health goals of the Ministry of Health in Paraguay. The use of digital technologies and the exchange of expertise should improve overall patient care in hepatology.
An essential part of the partnership will be the development of a telemedicine program in line with the specific clinical requirements and challenges of the partner clinic. In addition to setting up a telemedicine system on site, this includes in particular the training of local health professionals and the establishment of effective communication channels between the Hospital de Clinicas in San Lorenzo and the Mannheim Medical Faculty.
The project is ambitious: In addition to setting up a telemedical hepatology program, the medical processes of the gastroenterology department specializing in diseases of the digestive organs at the Hospital de Clinicas are to be optimized and inpatient care improved, as well as medical expertise brought to rural areas.
The project not only addresses the immediate health needs of the inhabitants of Paraguay, but also lays the foundation for future health innovations in the region: “First and foremost, the cooperation between the medical facilities in San Lorenzo and Mannheim is of course aimed at a healthier future for all Paraguayans. But it also serves to advance the development of telemedicine technologies, which in the future may also be important for remote regions in Germany,” summarizes Professor Teufel.