Authors Bio
Samia Hassan is a Lecturer in Law at North Bengal International University, Bangladesh. She approaches law not merely as a system of rules, but as a living instrument shaped by society, technology, rights, and human experiences. Her academic interests span international law, human rights, healthcare law, criminal law, and emerging legal issues. Through teaching and research, she seeks to explore the spaces where law meets contemporary challenges, with a particular interest in Bangladesh and its evolving legal landscape.
Abstract
Telemedicine has emerged as an essential component of contemporary healthcare by enabling remote diagnosis, consultation, treatment, and follow-up through digital technologies. Its rapid expansion, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, has highlighted the need for effective legal and regulatory frameworks that ensure patient safety while supporting technological innovation. This article comparatively examines telemedicine regulation in Singapore, India, Malaysia, and South Korea to identify regulatory best practices applicable to Bangladesh. Adopting a qualitative doctrinal methodology complemented by comparative legal analysis, the study reviews legislation, government policies, professional guidelines, judicial decisions, and reports published by international organisations. Existing scholarship indicates that although telemedicine significantly improves healthcare accessibility, particularly in resource-constrained settings, Bangladesh lacks a comprehensive legal framework governing digital healthcare. The comparative analysis reveals several common regulatory principles across the selected jurisdictions, including clear licensing requirements, robust data protection, standardised informed consent, effective regulation of electronic prescriptions, professional accountability, and institutional oversight. While Bangladesh has expanded telemedicine services through policy initiatives and professional guidelines, significant legal gaps remain regarding patient privacy, professional liability, cybersecurity, regulatory enforcement, and electronic health records. The article argues that Bangladesh should adopt a comprehensive and context-sensitive telemedicine law that incorporates regional best practices while reflecting domestic healthcare priorities and institutional capacity. Strengthening the legal framework would enhance public confidence, improve healthcare accessibility, and support the sustainable development of digital health services.
Keywords
Telemedicine, Digital Health, Health Law, Healthcare Regulation, Comparative Law, Bangladesh, Asia.
Article
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