In a major initiative, the State Government is planning to link all its 265 Primary Health Centres (PHC) with Telemedicine system under which the patients of remote and mountainous areas would be treated by the doctors without being physically present.
Informing about the new plan, the Health Advisor to Chief Minister, Dr Navin Balooni said that the Idea cellular has provided ten portable machines called Health Cubes to the state government free of cost under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. These machines use stripe based technology and very easy to handle. The Health cube can do 32 types of common pathology tests of blood, urine, Blood Pressure and Electro Cardio Gram (ECG) and give reports. These reports can be uploaded in a pen drive or internet. Dr Balooni said that the government is planning to buy these machines for all PHCs of the state. He said that the Chief Minister (CM) Trivendra Singh Rawat is very concerned about improving health facilities in the state and for it he has suggested optimal use of technology. “We have 1665 health sub centres, 265 PHC, 56 Community Health Centres (CHC) and 30 district hospitals and female hospitals. The state health service has only 900 doctors and in such a scenario use of technology is very practical approach,’’ he said.
The advisor to CM further elaborated that the government has ensured that 15-20 doctors are available in every district hospitals. By the use of telemedicine system the pharmacist posted in PHC can send the report of the portable machine to the doctor sitting in a district hospital who after viewing the report can suggest the treatment plan and medicines.
Dr Balooni informed that the results of the portable machine are good and in later phases these machines can be introduced in sub centres.
He informed that the CM has also launched the tele radiology service in Pauri on November 10. Under the scheme the state government has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a Delhi based company, Ms Vital Radiology Services.
The health department has brought 35 district hospitals and CHCs in the scheme under which the scan images of X rays, CT scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and mammography are sent to a specialist associated with company who provides the report to the doctor concerned.
Dr Balooni informed that the Government would install CT scan machines in 30 hospitals in next two years so that the patients are benefited.