From 10-19 August, the Telemedicine Program was introduced in Ladakh’s Changthang region through training sessions, field visits, and live teleconsultations. The initiative aims to improve access to healthcare in remote and underserved communities by linking local health facilities with medical professionals through telemedicine.

Training was conducted at Sumdho, where nurses were trained on the telemedicine platform, patient registration, consultation procedures, and coordination of live consultations. This was followed by live teleconsultations, enabling staff to gain practical experience in delivering telemedicine services.

Field visits were carried out in Sumdho, Nyoma, Khakshung, Guyul, and Hanley to assess the program’s implementation and understand healthcare needs in remote and nomadic communities. In Nyima, the team, together with the Ladakh Executive Officer, conducted an orientation session for camp leaders, raising awareness about the program, its benefits, and how patients can access remote medical consultations.

The visit highlighted challenges such as distance, connectivity, and healthcare accessibility, while also emphasizing the need for continued technical and operational support. The successful completion of training and live consultations marked an important step toward expanding telemedicine services across remote areas of Ladakh.

The visit concluded with HIS monitoring and assessment at the TPHC in Ladakh, where the implementation of the Health Information System was reviewed and areas for improvement were identified.

Overall, the initiative marked a significant milestone in bringing telemedicine services to the remote and nomadic communities of Changthang. The program was funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (USDOS/SCA).