Tele-oncology in cancer care during COVID-19 pandemic-expanding role in the developing world

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the entire health care system to a great extent and led to the development and utilization of alternative approaches. Tele-oncology holds great potential to deliver cancer care. With the use of tele-oncology, physical distancing can be maintained. This will help the cancer patients as well as the oncologist and other supporting staff from getting exposed to the virus. However, there are many challenges for starting tele-oncology especially in resource limited settings. We hereby discuss tele-oncology its applications, methods available, tools, set up and infrastructure, benefits of tele-oncology and various patient, physician and resource-related factors in detail, especially in the setting of low- A nd middle-income countries.