Telemedicine Utilization and Specialist Care Accessibility in Malawi's Remote Areas

Telemedicine has emerged as a promising solution to enhance healthcare access in underserved regions, particularly in Malawi where remote areas face significant barriers to specialist care. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including surveys (N=200) and qualitative interviews (n=15). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Telemedicine services significantly increased access to specialist care by over 40% in remote areas compared to non-users ($p<0.05$, 95% CI: [38%, 42%]). The study underscores the effectiveness of telemedicine in bridging healthcare gaps, particularly for specialist services. Integrate telemedicine into routine care protocols and expand training programmes for healthcare providers to ensure sustainable service delivery. Telemedicine, Specialist Care, Remote Areas, Malawi