Teledermatology: Improving Access or Widening Healthcare Disparities?

Community Dermatology: Current Status and the Way Forward

Community health interventions in dermatology have the potential to deliver healthcare to large populations. Such interventions can bridge the gap between increasing demands from vast populations and limited availability and asymmetric geographical distribution of specialist doctors. This narrative review aims to delineate various areas in which community dermatology initiatives are useful, the different approaches used, and the factors which could determine their effectiveness. We did a PubMed search using the search terms, "Community Health Services"[Mesh]) AND "Dermatology"[Mesh]. A further literature search was performed by cross-referencing these articles. In addition to its primary purpose of increasing access, community involvement can augment medical education, foster research, and help to develop more patient-centered clinical guidelines, understand disease trends and influences of the environment on various diseases, and formulate population-centered health policy. Task shifting, development of culture-sensitive and gender-sensitive community healthcare teams, disease-specific patient support groups, and use of advances in technology such as telemedicine are some of the important methods used in community dermatology. Task shifting may be performed at different levels - general practitioners, pharmacists, nurses, and community health workers. Community interventions harness volunteerism among health professionals as well as various stakeholders in the community. Partnering with non-governmental organizations, involving members of the community, and being a part of a long-term public health program help to sustain community interventions. The interventions should adapt to the ethical and cultural norms of the community. Continuity of care, fidelity, and evidence support are crucial for the success of community interventions in dermatology.

Solidarity and Voluntarism Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Skin Cancer Screening for Blood Donors

Many of the volunteer activities required to raise public awareness on skin cancer screening and prevention are supported by dermatological societies and volunteer dermatologists, and are framed by substantial voluntary groups, often not sufficiently credited for their contribution, including blood donors and Red Cross Samaritans. We herein propose that amid the ongoing pandemic, skin cancer screening and blood donations must not be disrupted with attention paid to patient safety foremost. Although efforts over the last decade have led to a significant reduction in skin cancer, ongoing activities have been suspended and, in many cases, disrupted since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread has created a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. International Health systems are burdened, and patients ignore symptoms and evade specialist visits due to contamination fear of coronavirus, resulting in a 68.61% reduction in skin cancer diagnoses. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has also major implications for blood transfusion. Currently, there are uncertain patterns of demand, and transfusion institutions need to plan for reductions in donations and loss of crucial staff because of sickness and public health restrictions. Supporting volunteer blood donors through voluntary skin cancer screening could be an excellent initiative, bringing people together, giving us the opportunity to abandon the illusion of power and admit our weakness to the ongoing pandemic. Most of us have not worked through pandemics before but it is time to embrace humanity and solidarity via volunteering, with no profit aims but with social goals of equal skin cancer screening opportunities of vitally important volunteer blood donors, encouraging blood donation. In light of a change in dermatology practice, investing in prevention strategies in public health and social protection is the mark of responsible policy action.