The impact of curriculum on a national telehealth program.

Pakistan developed a curriculum for training in telemedicine based upon international experience and regional needs. The curriculum was offered to selected specialists across the spectrum of medicine, policymakers, and engineer experts. The curriculum was experience based and hands-on. Each participant at the end was asked to develop a telemedicine application based upon their area of practice or expertise. Most of the first 30 graduates are currently involved in telemedicine applications in varied and unanticipated areas of contribution. The first graduates also were instrumental in the national and regional response to the earthquake disaster of 2005 in the Rawalpindi region. The curriculum is being expanded under government sponsorship to become a national telemedicine initiative.