Smartphone Tele-Dermatology Service

Mongolia has a vast area of 1.5 million km² and only three million people. Half of the population has very limited access to specialized medical services like dermatology due to low family income and long distance to the medical facilities. In Mongolia average distance to specialized medical facilities is 200 km. There are 330 Villages in 21 Provinces with only two or three family doctors.

Last updated in September 2023

The University Department of Dermatology has created web server and DERMA app, dedicated to tele-expertise. Within this initiative, each family doctor has received a smartphone with DERMA app. The physician can send information about his patient’s skin condition through a “step by step” questionnaire on his smartphone. The dermatologist can send back diagnosis, treatment method and recommendation to the village doctor within 24 hours. All the messages from dermatologist are accessible on the village doctor’s smartphone. This service aims to improve diagnosis and care of dermatologic conditions in remote areas and to decrease the cost and the duration for the patient.

By implementing this service, communities in remote areas get an access to specialized dermatologist service. This service reach most remote area of Mongolia.

During the covid-19 crisis and the severe confinements in Mongolia, the application was extremely useful for diagnosing dermatoses and monitoring patients. After the crisis, this enthusiasm gradually faded. In 2023, the project is facing new challenges, in particular the lack of support from the national authorities and the rotation of health professionals in remote areas of the country and, consequently, their training. Due to the immensity of the country and the lack of road infrastructure, travelling to the project areas for a training cycle takes up to 6 months. Nevertheless, the project continues, and a new application has been submitted to ODESS to meet these challenges.