{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,29]],"date-time":"2026-10-29T04:46:09Z","timestamp":1793249169921,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,20]],"date-time":"2026-02-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1771545600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Neurological disorders remain a leading cause of disability across Latin America, yet access to specialist care is affected by important workforce shortages, geographic disparities, and under-resourced health systems. Tele-neurology has emerged as a promising strategy to mitigate these barriers, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in rapid digital health adoption. This review article examines the development and implementation of tele-neurology initiatives across Latin America, with a focus on Ecuador; drawing on examples such as TeleEEG, telestroke networks, and Project ECHO, I illustrate how digital tools have expanded the reach of neurological services in underserved regions. Despite demonstrable benefits, challenges persist, including uneven digital infrastructure, regulatory gaps, and disparities in access. I argue that tele-neurology must be deliberately integrated into national public health strategies, not merely as a pandemic contingency but as a potential long-term solution for health equity, if done properly. Strategic investments in broadband access, clinician training, sustainable financing, and regional collaboration are essential to scale these innovations. When anchored in strong policy frameworks and aligned with global neurological health goals, tele-neurology could offer a path toward closing the treatment gap and advancing equitable neurological care throughout Latin America.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1779415","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,20]],"date-time":"2026-02-20T06:41:42Z","timestamp":1771569702000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Tele-neurology in Latin America: digital solutions for a treatment gap"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Jose E.","family":"Leon-Rojas","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Las Am\u00e9ricas","place":["Quito, Ecuador"]},{"name":"Grupo de Investigaci\u00f3n Bienestar, Salud y Sociedad, Escuela de Psicolog\u00eda y Educaci\u00f3n, Universidad de Las Am\u00e9ricas","place":["Quito, Ecuador"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.46997\/revecuatneurol32200055","article-title":"Number of neurologists and neurology training programs available in the public health system of Ecuador: analysis and recommendations","volume":"32","author":"Moreno-Zambrano","year":"2023","journal-title":"Rev Ecuat Neurol"},{"key":"ref2","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9772","DOI":"10.3389\/fneur.2022.869772","article-title":"Disparities influencing functional outcomes between rural and urban patients with acute stroke","volume":"13","author":"Llanos-Leyton","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Neurol"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuarg.2023.12.001","article-title":"Relevamiento de residencias y concurrencias de neurolog\u00eda en 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