Virtual Care

Turning data into better patient care: A conversation with medical technology leaders

On 8 September 2026, the IHF hosted a webinar exploring how hospitals can use patient data, connected technologies and command centres to support better care. The session brought together leaders from Medical Informatics Corp, Medtronic, and Convatec. The discussion showed that the challenge is no longer simply collecting more data. Hospitals need to identify what matters, get that information to the right people and ensure there is a clear clinical response.

How can virtual health decarbonize health systems?

On 9 April, the IHF Virtual Care SIG, in partnership with Apollo Hospitals Group India, hosted the latest in its Conversations in Virtual Care series. Chaired by Dr Karan Thakur, Group Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Apollo, the session brought together experts from Healthdirect Australia and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to explore how virtual care can contribute to decarbonizing health systems, and how to measure and demonstrate that contribution.

Exploring the future of virtual care

The IHF Virtual Care SIG held an interactive workshop at the 2025 World Hospital Congress where more than 30 clinicians, policymakers, and innovators joined to explore the fast-changing landscape of virtual care and telesurgery in global health.

Participants exchanged real‑world experiences, raised challenges related to financing, regulation and cultural acceptance, and highlighted opportunities where technology could bridge gaps in care.

Building trust in virtual care: Ensuring quality, safety, and regulation worldwide

On Tuesday 2 September, the IHF’s Virtual Care Special Interest Group (SIG) in partnership with Apollo Hospitals Group, hosted the third in its Conversations in Virtual Care series. The session brought together leading international experts to engage in a rich, thought-provoking panel discussion on how healthcare systems can build trust in virtual care.

The discussion set the stage for the Virtual Care SIG’s upcoming face-to-face workshop at the World Hospital Congress in Geneva in November 2025, where members will continue to explore how to scale virtual care responsibly and effectively.

Conversations in Virtual Care #1: Navigating challenges, seizing opportunities

On 3 June, the first in a series of Conversations in Virtual Care, was hosted by the IHF Virtual Care Special Interest Group and sponsored by Apollo Hospitals Group. It brought together global experts to assess progress in virtual care, identify ongoing challenges, and explore pathways to sustainable, equitable implementation. The panel deep dived into how the COVID-19 marked a turning point, into the infrastructure challenges, the cultural barriers, the regulatory frameworks and more!

Expanding access to healthcare in low-resource settings

Dr Sai Praveen Haranath, Lung and Critical Care specialist and part of the leadership of the Apollo Hospitals Telehealth Initiative, sat down with Sharon Allen CEO of the World Telehealth Initiative (WTI), for a conversation on the use of telehealth in low-resource settings; how can virtual care help overcome barriers and ensure that critical healthcare reaches those in need?

IHF Telehealth SIG at the World Hospital Congress in Rio

IHF Telehealth SIG sponsor Apollo Hospitals Group India led a well-attended and lively session at Congress to share some of the opportunities telehealth offers to improve healthcare around the world. Chaired by Dr Sai Praveen Haranath, panelists shared the work they are doing to ensure high quality and patient-centred telehealth initiatives are accessible to all.

Dr Khulood Alsayegh highlighted the importance of developing a strong evidence base and set of KPIs in order to influence policymakers; Andrew Rosen shared JCI International's new Telehealth Accreditation Program; Professor Ravi Prakash Mahajan shared some of the challenges of regulation and cross-border telehealth; and Meagan Moyer shared some of her research and experiences from Stanford Healthcare. Key challenges remain, particularly in managing varying regulations across sub-national, national and regional borders, and finding ways to meet these while permitting cross-border telehealth. These conversations will continue within the Telehealth SIG - contact ilona.johnston@ihf-fih.org if you are interested in finding out more!

Telehealth outside the hospital setting: SIG meeting

On 16 May (15:00 – 16:00 CEST) experts from around the world will share their experiences on telehealth outside the hospital setting with a focus on regulations, standards, and the role of AI.

IHF Members with relevant expertise to share can contact Ilona Johnston to get involved.

Driving global telehealth strategy and promoting access, equity and excellence to the IHF membership

At a recent Telehealth SIG meeting, Dr Sai Praveen Haranath gave a presentation on Apollo’s HealthAxis programme. An innovative HealthTech enterprise that harnesses the extensive clinical expertise and legacy of Apollo Hospitals to address the needs of global healthcare systems.

New sponsor for the IHF Telehealth SIG announced at the Transforming Healthcare with IT conference!

The IHF is pleased to announce a new partnership with Apollo Hospitals Group, Asia’s foremost integrated healthcare service provider, to support the development of the Telehealth SIG in 2024. This SIG explores the imperatives and advantages of harnessing digital technology in providing remote healthcare. The collaboration was announced at the 11th Transforming Healthcare with IT conference in Bangalore in February, attended by Sonia Roschnik representing the IHF.

This SIG welcomes new members at our first meeting of 2024, focusing on ‘Managing Telehealth for inpatients outside the ICU’– join us on 18 March to hear experts from around the world share their experiences and learning, and contribute to the discussion. IHF Members with relevant expertise to share can contact Ilona Johnston to get involved.

Talking telemedicine and healthcare's carbon footprint

In this episode of our Talking Healthcare podcast, Ed Percy, HHS Vice President EMEA, Teladoc Health, sat down with Sonia Roschnik and Dr Hesham Abdelghaffar to shed light on the role of telemedicine in the transition to net-zero healthcare. They discussed opportunities, challenges, and practical implications for hospital leaders of using telemedicine to reduce the carbon footprint of their hospitals.

The power of telehealth: How can it improve access to care?

In March 2022, we hosted a special webinar with the World Telehealth Initiative and the African Healthcare Federation. Sharing learnings and knowledge about how telehealth can be used to address disparities of access to care and medical expertise, you can catch up on the recording of the webinar in full here.

Designing and implementing sustainable and successful telehealth programmes in acute care

From July to December 2022, we are hosting a series of free, interactive “lunch and learn” workshops. Providing practical guidance on how to establish a sustainable telehealth programme, the focus is on acute care. The workshops were developed in collaboration with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin  and Mayo Clinic. Find out more about the programme and register for upcoming workshops here.