A Telemedicine Project for Iraq connecting a teaching hospital in Baghdad with the Hospital Umberto I of 'La Sapienza' University in Rome

The European Space Agency has agreed to support an initiative from the Italian company Telbios. The initiative is called 'SIMONA: A Telemedicine Project for Iraq' and involves connecting a teaching hospital in Baghdad Iraq with the Hospital Umberto I of 'La Sapienza' University in Rome Italy. In total two stations for video-conferencing have been installed. Each of these includes one audio/video terminal connected via satellite between the Teaching Hospital and Umberto I. Video conferencing allows consultations and the exchange of medical opinions for diagnosis and treatment. Internet access is also provided, permitting Iraq based medical personnel to access the most up-to-date medical literature. The first video consults already took place in early August 2005. In the first month, 20 patients were provided telemedicine consultations and positive results were immediate. A total of 128 cases were discussed in 33 tele-consultation sessions. Other positive results which can be attributed to Simona include: frequent and stable contacts and relationships between all parties, a creation of a clinical data archive for the patients involved and the shipment of medicines for chemotherapy according to the CWTH necessities.