Polytechnic students develop medical kiosk for basic health check-up

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Even as the successive governments of Punjab have been talking of providing basic healthcare facilities at doorsteps, the students of Electronics and Communication Engineering of Mehr Chand Polytechnic College have come up with an innovative solution to the problem.Sixth semester students of the polytechnic — Himanshu Parmar, Vijay Shah, Parkashdeep Singh and Promila — have come up with a project 'The Medical Kiosk'. The project is a smart vending machine designed to provide essential medical services and supplies to the public, all at the cost of a single Rs 10 coin per feature.

The kiosk will allow the users to perform basic health checkups such as blood pressure (BP) monitoring, body temperature measurement, SPO2 (oxygen level) check, and pulse rate monitoring. Along with these diagnostic features, the machine can also dispense a first aid kit, common tablets for fever and pain, and Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) packets, making it a one-stop solution for urgent and routine medical needs.

The students explained, "Each service or item is accessed by inserting a ₹10 coin, making the kiosk extremely user-friendly and cost-effective. With simple instructions and an intuitive interface, the machine can be used by anyone, regardless of technical background or medical training."

They further shared, "This innovative kiosk is designed for public spaces like far-flung rural or semi-rural areas where immediate medical support may not always be available."

Some ideal locations suggested by the team for installation within the cities and towns include railway stations, metro stations, bus terminals and airports for quick health checks and emergency aid during travel for offering first-response healthcare for passengers on the move.

Other than that, some commonly used areas like public parks, tourist spots, and religious places where visitors and pilgrims can have access to basic health support have also been suggested as good options for the project. The machine can also be put to use in schools, colleges, factories and offices for routine checkups and timely response to minor injuries or health issues.

Guides Manish Sachdeva and Manav Bhalla, who helped the students in developing the concept and its execution, said, "The medical kiosk can play a critical role in delivering first-line healthcare and potentially saving lives before professional help arrives. In the era when healthcare needs are expected to be fast, accessible and affordable, this medical kiosk can surely be the innovative solution".