New app helps skin doctors reach out to distant, impoverished patients

A doctor in a health center in Koulikoro takes pictures of a patient suffering from a skin disease. An online dermatology platform offers a diagnostic and instructions for a treatment from a doctor located in Bamako, Mali.Sebastien Rieussec / Agence Francepresse

BAMAKO, Mali - In Mali, where skin conditions are widespread and skin doctors are scarce, physicians have turned to technology to treat patients remotely.

From his Bamako office, Professor Ousmane Faye, one of a small number of dermatologists in Mali, examines photos of an arm and a torso afflicted by a skin pigmentation disorder.

The photos arrived the same day the patient visited his doctor in Koulikoro, 57 kilometers away.

Faye's pilot program, in place for 18 months, allows general practitioners working in even the most remote areas to consult with a specialist.

In a country that has around one dermatologist per million people, that is an invaluable aid. For in Mali, according to estimates, nearly 30 percent of the population suffers from skin diseases, such as leprosy, psoriasis and eczema.

"The patient from Koulikoro suffers from hypochromia lesions with some healthy patches of skin," said Faye, head of dermatology at Mali's national disease control center.

"Two months ago, the patient had treatment that made the lesions worse," he added. By this he meant traditional remedies.

But thanks to the "Bogou" app, designed by a Malian developer, the professor can bring his specialist knowledge to bear on the information sent over by general practitioners, using his computer or even his mobile phone.

Using a secure platform protected with a password, Faye says he can see images posted by the general practitioner in Koulikoro.

"Then I can confirm the doctor's diagnosis and even give advice."

Provided clear images are available, Faye's line of work is particularly well-suited to remote diagnosis, as dermatology is based on observation by the human eye, he explains.

"There is a triple benefit: time, money and training", for the doctors out in the field, he said.

The Pierre Fabre foundation, which is financing the program, said the results have been "solid", with 175 complex cases diagnosed remotely.

Already, 20 doctors and nurses have been trained with the goal of extending the service throughout Mali over the next two years.

The specialists will first focus on reaching the most disadvantaged and remote areas that have internet coverage.

Agence France-presse