As the hospitals across the country crumble under Covid-19 crisis, the Government hopes that tele-consultation services can do a bit to reduce the burden by reaching out to those seeking guidance for the virus infected patients confined at homes.
VK Paul, member of NITI Aayog,on Tuesday exhorted physicians fraternity across the States to come forward to provide tele-consultation in a big way to the patients and their families who require guidance about the Covid-19 as well as other diseases.
“Lot of patients are confined in homes and need medical guidance on Covid-19 that can be beneficial to them,” said Dr Paul calling for a support system for those in need. “Clinics are closed and it is not necessary that everybody has personal contact with the doctors. Hence, we must popularise voluntary or even paid tele health services by the medical fraternity,” he said.
There are patients who are suffering from mild Covid-19 and simple medical consultation can resolve their medical issues which would ensure early treatment as well as cut down burden on the hospitals.
In fact, StepOne, a non-profit volunteer driven collective of 7,000 doctors, has already launched a National Covid Telemedicine Helpline, offering 24x7 access to healthcare experts, free of cost.
The helpline, +91-9745697456, is now live and available in seven languages including English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Marathi, Telugu and Punjabi and provides Telemedicine services for Covid related cases, mental health and video consultations for non-Covid related cases.
Similarly, at least 40 doctors from the Bihar chapter of the Indian Medical Association have volunteered to offer their services by providing free medical consultation over the phone to those in dire need as COVID-19 cases rage on in the state. Dr Ajay Kumar, senior vice-president, and Dr Sunil Kumar, general secretary of IMA said that the doctors have decided to make themselves available in two shifts from 10 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 6 pm.
Not keen to leave behind, the Union Defence Ministry has urged the veteran officers of Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) to offer teleconsultation to citizens amid the pandemic crisis asking them to register themselves on the e-Sehat Portal wherein they can offer their guidance, counselling and advice to help provide succour those in need.
Dr Alexander Kuruvilla, chief health strategy officer on digital health app ‘Practo’, a digital healthcare network noted that the number of requests for tele consultation has increased by several times in the Covid-era.