On 3 June, the Virtual Care Special Interest Group (SIG) launched its new webinar series, Conversations in Virtual Care, with a dynamic discussion exploring the evolving landscape of virtual healthcare across the globe. Chaired by the SIG’s sponsor, Apollo Hospitals Group India, the session brought together leading experts from Kenya, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia to reflect on lessons learned, persistent challenges, and emerging opportunities in virtual care delivery. 

Setting the stage: A global perspective 

Dr Sai Praveen Haranath, SVP Apollo HealthAxis and session Chair, opened the conversation by framing virtual care as both a response to urgent healthcare needs and a long-term opportunity to reshape how care is delivered. He highlighted the importance of balancing optimism with an acknowledgement of the remaining structural and cultural barriers. The panelists then provided a snapshot of the virtual care environment in their countries, drawing on their hospital experience as well as national initiatives. 

The pandemic shift 

COVID-19 marked a turning point for Virtual Care, and what was once considered a niche service became central to healthcare delivery during the pandemic.  

Dr Vishal Patel CMO, MP Shah Hospital Kenya described how pandemic restrictions rapidly accelerated telemedicine uptake in Kenya, reinforced by digital infrastructure investment. 

Dr Huma Naz from Aga Khan University Hospital Parkistan noted that urban hospitals in Pakistan saw virtual care adoption rates as high as 80%, though rural areas continue to face major accessibility challenges. 

Dr Mohammed Alhamali, representing Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, reflected on Saudi Arabia’s ongoing journey toward digital health transformation, highlighting the strategic role of government-led initiatives, regulatory innovation, and increasing demand for integrated, tech-enabled healthcare services. He also noted that Saudi Arabia ranks 1st regionally and 4th globally in digital infrastructure readiness, reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a leading enabler of scalable virtual care models. He further emphasized the importance of embedding virtual care into national models of care and leveraging population health strategies to ensure long-term sustainability and system-wide impact. 

Infrastructure: The digital divide 

While virtual care platforms and endpoint devices are now widely available, the panelists emphasized that connectivity remains a core issue, particularly in rural areas. Inconsistent mobile and internet networks limit access to video consultations and remote diagnostics where they are often needed most. The rise of non-communicable diseases in these underserved regions makes the case for virtual, multidisciplinary care even stronger.  

Meanwhile, innovations such as satellite internet and AI-powered monitoring tools are promising but require coordinated investment and infrastructure planning. Dr Karthik Adapa, Regional Advisor Digital Health, WHO South East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), underscored the importance of national digital health strategies as comprehensive action plans that connect infrastructure, policy, and service delivery. 

Cultural and digital literacy barriers 

Panelists agreed that acceptance rates for virtual care vary hugely among patients and care providers. Dr Naz shared that in Pakistan older adults often remain sceptical of virtual care, while younger generations are more digitally literate but are often more concerned with privacy issues. Simplifying technology, localizing content, and building culturally sensitive user interfaces are key steps toward inclusion. One-touch access via basic phones, and platforms tailored to local languages and culture, could dramatically increase access to virtual care services. 

Among clinicians, our panelists had also observed a generational divide is visible, with digital adoption generally being quicker among younger practitioners. 

Governance: Building trust through regulation 

It was agreed that robust legal and ethical frameworks are critical to the implementation of virtual care services, with Dr Sai Praveen emphasizing that patients deserve the same rights and protections in virtual settings as they do in physical ones. Dr Karthik Adapa, Regional Adviser, Digital Health, WHO SEARO highlighted Southeast Asia’s progress with open-source, standards-based tools and India’s ambitious Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. Kenya, meanwhile, has passed a Digital Health Act and is working on a ‘digital superhighway’ to unify services across sectors, including healthcare. 

Public-Private partnerships  

Panelists shared the vision that virtual care should augment physical services rather than replace them, with hybrid models proving effective. Collaborations between healthcare providers and technology companies are also driving innovation in many parts of the world, particularly in diagnostics and remote monitoring. 

Looking forward: Key takeaways from the panel 

To ensure virtual care fulfils its potential to improve patient care worldwide, each panelist concluded with one action they would like to see moving forward: 

• Strengthen regulatory frameworks to ensure patient safety, data security, and cross-border care. 

• Embed virtual care into national health strategies, with sustainable funding. 

• Scale public-private partnerships to drive innovation and expand reach. 

• Design AI-enabled care pathways tailored to younger populations. 

• Create practical tools and resources, such as white papers and toolkits, through platforms like the IHF Virtual Care SIG. 

This webinar marked the beginning of the Conversations in Virtual Care series brought to you by the IHF Virtual Care SIG and its sponsor Apollo Hospitals Group. If you would like more details of the discussion please listen back here!

Our next Conversation in Virtual Care will look at the financing of virtual care services and will take place on 8th July at 08:00 CEST.