Telemedicine service at 300 health centres in Punjab

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 24

In the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, the state government has started telemedicine services at 300 Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) to provide people in rural areas with comprehensive primary health services on their doorstep.

Telemedicine allows medial officers to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients without the need for an in-person visit. Patients can communicate with physicians from their homes by using technology or by visiting a dedicated telehealth kiosk.

A telemedicine hub has been established at the Civil Hospital, Mohali, with four medical officers and one telemedicine executive.

In the next phase, the number of medical officers would be increased after assessing the response across the state. The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing’s e-Sanjeevni telemedicine application is being used to roll out the telemedicine programme.

Under the initiative, community health officers at HWCs connect with medical officers at the hub via video calling. The officers will distribute medicines to patients based on the prescription received through the app from medical officers. At least 27 essential medicines and six diagnostics test are available at the HCWs.

Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said 2,022 HWCs were made operational in Punjab and 1,582 community health officers had already been posted there.