Teleradiology in the pandemic era

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced healthcare systems globally into an unprecedented state of disruption. The demand for safe, efficient, and remote service delivery became critical, especially in radiology. Teleradiology, the digital transmission of medical images from one location to another for diagnostic interpretation¹, rapidly evolved from a supportive tool to a clinical necessity. Defined by the World Health Organization² as a subfield of telemedicine, teleradiology facilitates remote diagnosis, consultations and reporting, enabling radiologists to work across geographical boundaries without compromising patient care¹. Though teleradiology existed prior to the pandemic, the crisis significantly accelerated its uptake, revealing both potential and longstanding health system limitations.

The global expansion of teleradiology during the pandemic was striking. It surged by 35% between 2020 and 2021, with some high-income countries (HICs) demonstrating the fastest adoption rates³. In the United States, over...