Survey items essential to feasibility study on satellite-based medical network and considerations therein

There has been no report on survey items for feasibility study (hereinafter abbreviated as "F/S") essential to tendering for a satellite network project for medical services (including medical education) covering a wide range of cross-border/interstate areas. This article reports the results of investigation and analysis on survey items and considerations in this field based on our experiences. The F/S can be classified into the following three contents: (1) Technologies specific to satellite communications and gateways, and problems therewith; (2) Economical/cultural backgrounds surrounding telemedicine, and problems therewith; (3) Legal systems and regulations, and problems therewith. The survey on these matters would allow the project to guarantee smooth operation of sustained self-reliant telemedicine in future^.