Soon, Bihar model of telemedicine may help UP patients

Soon, Bihar’s telemedicine model may help treat patients in over 200 villages of UP. Prof GK Singh, former director of AIIMS Patna, who successfully ran the project in Bihar and now heads the department of orthopaedic surgery at the King George’s Medical University, has written a letter to the KGMU V-C, requesting him to be allowed to start the project on campus.

The project, which will bring consultation of super-specialist doctors to the doorstep of villagers, had benefitted 87,000 patients in Bihar in a year.

“The process is simple, low cost and needs just a smart phone in the hands of villagers. Patients will have to pay nothing other than the phone call and the internet charges. Meanwhile, here we will install a software that costs around two lakhs,” he said.

According to him, in the first phase of the project, 40 districts (over 200 villages) can be targeted. “In the second phase, the facility can extend to all villages in UP. After reaching out to villages, where health services are poor, we can also take up city cases. So, instead of travelling from Gorakhpur to Lucknow, one can get a medical opinion while sitting in the comfort of one’s home,” said Prof Singh.

He added that the expansion of the project would depend on the availability of doctors for taking patient calls. “As more doctors from varied branches join the project, more districts will be added,” he said.

KGMU has over 40 departments, where experts treat patients, teach students and conduct research. These experts are expected to be a part of the project. The doctors will also need to create a roster to attend calls and give opinions through e-mails. “This will help patients get access to doctors from different specialities and even referrals, if needed,” said Prof Singh. LUCKNOW: