The Cardio-Pad^TM project: progress and remaining challenges

The Cardio-Pad^TM is a touchscreen tablet which enables to perform electrocardiograms (ECG) in remote underserved areas and transfer the test results via mobile phone connection to specialist physicians for interpretation and assistance in case management. As a telemedicine device, it is a potential solution to overcome the shortage of qualified health professionals and improve access to cardiovascular care in rural areas in low-income countries. After some improvements made on the prototype available in 2014, the commercialization of the Cardio-Pad^TM started in early 2016. Despite its potential to help improve the care of patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in remote underserved areas in low-to-middle income countries, several questions remain unanswered, pertaining to its reliability and cost-effectiveness as a public health intervention. In this paper, we present updates on the Cardio-Pad^TM initiative and some of its limitations and remaining challenges.