Telemedicine Clinic Pilot Project (OFFICIALLY CLOSED THIS PROGRAM IN the YEAR 2016)

Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication and information technologies in order to provide clinical health care at a distance. It helps eliminate distance barriers and can improve access to medical services that would often not be consistently available in distant rural communities. It is also used to save lives in critical care and emergency situation.

Telemedicine is a rapidly developing application of Clinical Medicine in which medical information is transferred through the internet. Telemedicine is the ability to provide interactive health care utilizing modern technology and telecommunications.

Telemedicine services save expenses that the patients spend on travel and accommodation. It is most beneficial for people living in remote, isolated regions, which is why we have introduced this as a pilot project.

As of March 2013, there is only one pilot telemedicine clinic in Mainpat, with plans to expand to more locations next year. The installation of these clinics however depends on a reliable, constant supply of electricity and internet connectivity, in addition to the technical skills to operate the system. With technological support from the Tele-radiology Solution Pvt. Ltd. of Bangalore, the installation of telemedicine at Mainpat was completed in Aug. 2012. Technicians from Bangalore trained our medical staff on how to operate the system and handle the patients. The clinic as such has been fully operational since 27 Aug.  2012. Regarding the telemedicine clinic in Odisha, the project has been temporarily halted because of the ongoing road widening works.

Telemedicine makes quality health care services accessible to the people living in the most remote and isolated regions.

The Health Department therefore would like to extend its heartfelt gratitude to the Associazione Italia-Tibet, Camellia Foundation, and others, who have made this project possible with their generous support.