SOON, TELEMEDICINE FACILITY IN ENTIRE STATE: HEALTH MIN

Telemedicine facility will be extended to various districts and also to the level of primary and community health centres in the state so that maximum people can benefit from it. “Services of specialists will be available for more people this way,” said health minister Siddharthnath Singh who was speaking at the launch of tele-dermatology facility at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia hospital on Saturday afternoon. In the morning the minister had launched the standard treatment approach and mental health survey report-2017. The standard treatment approach covers 14 different diseases such as JE, AES, diarrhoea, hypothermia, poisoning, chest pain and swine flu. “We are processing tenders for telemedicine and soon it will be available in the entire state,” said the minister. “When I took charge as UP’s health minister, the union health minister and PMO had urged me to keep treatment protocol same in the entire state whether it be the district hospitals, community or primary health centres and for this we are working,” he said. “I have also approved the concept of the app that will later link all technology-based services to it. It will help a patient find nearest hospital and doctor and also know stock of medicine,” said the minister. The app will also enable authorities to take action on the basis of inquiry that may be set up on complaints via the app only. “When treatment protocol is same at PHC or CHC and we will bring UP at one level in terms of technology, the probability to save patients will be raised. This helps give training to doctors working at smaller centres as well,” he said.