ISfTeH Takes Part in Telehealth Connect 2026, Advancing Digital Health Collaboration

ISfTeH was pleased to participate as a strategic partner in Telehealth Connect 2026, held in Tunis, Tunisia. The conference provided an important platform for examining the development and implementation of telemedicine and digital health across communities, institutions, and health systems.

ISfTeH representatives contributed to several key sessions focused on community care, virtual hospitals, global collaboration, and workforce capacity.

In the panel “Community Care Reimagined: Digital Tools on the Frontline,” Prof. Hassan Ghazal, ISfTeH Board Member and President of the Moroccan Society for Telemedicine & eHealth, presented case studies on telehealth implementation and explored the role of digital tools in strengthening community-based care.

Prof. Ghazal stated:

“Reimagining health systems is not about adding more digital tools. It is about using digital health to bring care closer to people — connecting hospitals, primary care, communities and homes into one continuous journey of care.”

ISfTeH President Dr. Michele Griffith moderated the panel “Virtual Hospitals at Scale.” The session examined how virtual hospitals and remote specialist services are being implemented across different care settings. Dr. Waqas Ahmed of American TelePhysicians shared experience from programs in telestroke, inpatient neurology, senior care, correctional care, virtual hospitals, and teledialysis.

Dr. Griffith noted:

“Virtual care is simply human connection with technology. Effective virtual care keeps communication, clinical judgement and the patient at the center.”

Dr. Griffith also presented the ISfTeH Global Network, highlighting its role in strengthening international connections and supporting collaboration among individuals and organizations advancing telemedicine and eHealth.

Workforce development was addressed through the workshop “Building Workforce Capacity,” led by Dr. Osama El Hassan, with Dr. Griffith and Maya Sherne of Telehealth.org serving as co-facilitators and moderator. The session emphasized the importance of competency-based education and practical preparation for health professionals working in digital care environments.

Dr. El Hassan emphasized:

“International collaboration is the only way forward to advance the operationalization of competency-based frameworks for digital health.”

Maya Sherne added:

“Digital health succeeds when a doctor in a rural clinic can do their job more easily and effectively, with the skills, tools, and confidence to care for the patient in front of them. Workforce training is the vehicle that gets us there, but provider and patient success is always the finish line.”

The conference demonstrated that the continued advancement of digital health depends on strong partnerships, practical implementation, workforce readiness, and a consistent focus on patient and provider needs.

ISfTeH thanks the Telehealth Connect 2026 organizers and all participating speakers, members, and contributors for advancing this important international dialogue.