Karachi: Pakistani specialist doctors are preparing to provide online medical consultations, second opinions and follow-up care to Palestinian patients in Gaza, Nablus and other parts of the West Bank through a telemedicine initiative aimed at improving access to healthcare in conflict-affected areas.
The programme will connect Pakistani medical specialists with Palestinian patients and healthcare workers at three locations, Gaza, Nablus and other areas of the West Bank, with plans to extend assistance to refugee camps and communities facing difficulties in accessing specialist medical services.
The initiative comes amid serious disruptions to healthcare services in Gaza, where damage to hospitals, shortages of medical supplies, displacement of healthcare workers and restrictions on movement have made access to specialist treatment increasingly difficult, particularly for women, children and patients with chronic diseases.
Under the proposed arrangement, Pakistani doctors specialising in maternal and child health, paediatrics, cardiology, psychology, mental health and other disciplines will provide consultations through a digital platform, enabling Palestinian healthcare workers to seek specialist opinions without requiring patients to travel to distant hospitals.
The programme is being developed by Pakistan-based digital health organisation EduCast in collaboration with Birzeit University, a leading Palestinian educational institution in the West Bank, which will facilitate local coordination and connections with community healthcare facilities.
The initiative will operate through two service models. The first will involve community healthcare centres in Nablus, where local caregivers and medical personnel will connect patients with Pakistani specialists during designated clinic hours using smartphones, tablets and computers.
The second model will provide medical advice, second opinions and follow-up support beyond regular clinic hours through online consultations and digital messaging, with plans to establish round-the-clock assistance depending on the availability of specialists and operational arrangements.
Speaking about the initiative, Abdullah Butt of EduCast said the programme was intended to bring Pakistani medical expertise directly to Palestinian communities struggling to access specialist healthcare because of the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
He said the initiative would use the organisation’s eCast digital health platform to connect Pakistani specialists with Palestinian healthcare workers and patients, particularly those requiring specialist opinions, continued medical supervision and follow-up care.
Butt said the programme would initially focus on three locations, including Gaza, Nablus and other parts of the West Bank, while efforts would also be made to extend consultations to patients living in refugee camps and underserved communities.
He said Pakistani doctors would support local healthcare professionals rather than replace them, allowing patients to receive specialist advice while continuing their treatment under the supervision of medical personnel available on the ground.
According to project documents, maternal healthcare and paediatrics will be among the priority services, alongside cardiology and psychological support for people suffering from anxiety, depression and trauma-related conditions.
A separate mental health component is also being planned to address the psychological consequences of prolonged conflict, displacement and the loss of family members, particularly among Palestinian women and children.
The proposed mental health programme will use an artificial intelligence-enabled digital platform to provide initial screening and guidance before referring patients requiring professional assessment to trained mental health practitioners through video consultations.
The platform is also expected to facilitate training, professional mentoring and specialist support for Palestinian healthcare workers, with an emphasis on strengthening local capacity to manage psychological and mental health conditions.
According to the project proposal, the mental health component aims to reach at least 2,000 Palestinians over 18 months, with women and girls expected to account for at least 50 percent of beneficiaries. It also envisages training and certification for 125 healthcare professionals, including frontline practitioners and specialist mentors.
The proposal outlines a budget of $660,000, comprising $400,000 from the Islamic Development Bank, $150,000 from Action for Humanity, $60,000 as Birzeit University’s in-kind contribution and $50,000 in technical and operational support from EduCast. The documents do not specify whether the proposed financial contributions have been formally approved or disbursed.
The digital platform is being designed to operate in areas with limited internet connectivity, with low-bandwidth options, offline functions and backup arrangements to address frequent electricity and communication disruptions.
Birzeit University is expected to provide institutional coordination, support for training and quality assurance, and assistance in connecting the programme with Palestinian healthcare institutions and community organisations.
The organisers said the initiative would complement existing Palestinian medical services, particularly by facilitating specialist opinions and continuity of care, while patients requiring emergency interventions, diagnostic procedures or hospitalisation would continue to depend on healthcare facilities on the ground.
The programme is intended to provide a mechanism through which Pakistani medical professionals can contribute to healthcare delivery in Palestine without being physically present, although its eventual reach will depend on local infrastructure, specialist availability and the ability of Palestinian healthcare facilities to maintain digital connections.