The Narendra Modi Government's 'Digital India' initiative has spread its wings to cover health sector, too.
Union Communication and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday launched SEHAT (Social Endeavour for Health And Telemedicine) programme which will connect 60,000 Common Service Centers (CSCs) to provide healthcare access to lakh of citizens.
"The unique initiative for health care in India-SEHAT launched today is an initiative in furtherance to Government's commitment to empower rural citizens in having access to information, knowledge, skills and other services in various sectors through the intervention of digital technologies and fulfilling the vision of a Digital India," said Prasad at a function in Delhi.
The Minister said the Government plans to set up at least one CSC in every Panchayat. There will be around 2,50,000 access points for delivery of various Government to citizen ( G2C ) services. The citizen can avail all the facilities near to the place of residence and need not frequent the Government offices, he added.
The SEHAT is a joint initiative of the CSC and Apollo Hospitals which will connect the people on a common network to avail tele-health services.
Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals said, "Telemedicine can provide rural population access for basic, specialty and super specialty consultations. Since 80 % of conditions do not require a doctor's physical presence immediately, they can be dealt with through telemedicine. Most lifestyle and communicable diseases fall in this category."
The CSCs will also provide diagnostic services and promote sale of generic drugs through collaboration with Ministry of Health - by setting up of the Jan Aasudhi Stores.