Distance will not be a barrier for getting quality healthcare assistance even in rural pockets of Jharkhand now all thanks to the telemedicine service initiated by South Eastern Railways. To enhance the medical services and to provide quality healthcare services to the people residing in the interior pockets, Ranchi Railway Division has initiated the telemedicine services at Bano Centre.
It is the first of its kind service initiated at Ranchi division in the SER after the North Western Railways selected Jodhpur Railway Station for the same purpose. The centre is interlinked with the Hatia Railway Station and has been started on pilot project basis. After the success of this telemedicine centre, the railway officials may expand the services in other rural pockets of the State too.
“The telemedicine project has been initiated on August 17. After looking at the demography of Bano, the telemedicine service has been started here. With the objective to connect people residing at Bano with the doctors for expert opinions on different health issues and breaking the distance barrier this service has been initiated. lashed with essential medical equipments, a patient can get advice on various matters through video conferencing by the doctors sitting at Hatia station,” said, Senior DCM, Ranchi Division, Neeraj Kumar.
“At present, Ranchi division has tie-ups with Guru Nanak Hospital, Raj Hospital, The Seven Palms Hospital and Research Centre including few others. The expert panels after diagnosis gives advice to the respective patients, however serious cases which demands immediate medical attention are referred to other hospitals as per the requirement. With the assistance of Railtel, a telecom wing of Indian Railway, the service has been initiated,” added Kumar.
The service which has been commenced on pilot basis only at two divisions by the Indian Railway at present, Bano centre has been commissioned as the first telemedicine centre. “This is the first telemedicine centre of South Eastern Railway, as Jodhpur Station has not yet initiated the service. The service started is also to give demonstration to the State Government and will help in upgrading the primary health care centres across the state. However, at present through massive campaigns, this service need to be advertised among the village dwellers,” said, Advisor to RailTel, requesting anonymity.
“Through the virtual transmission of clinical data, diagnosis is carried out. From primary equipments to ECG machines all are available at the centre. The provision of Doppler Ultrasound will be made available for the patients too, as proposed under the CSR plan this year,” added, Advisor to RailTel.