GoK to set up task force for telemedicine project implementation

EHM News Bureau - Bangalore

The Government of Karnataka is in the process of setting up a task force for implementation of telemedicine projects in co-ordination with all hospitals and government machinery, Dr G Parameshwar, state minister for Higher Education and Medical Education, Government of Karnataka, has said. He was speaking at the inauguration of California-based company Televital Inc’s unique technology which empowers medical service providers to monitor, diagnose, treat and manage their patients from any remote location, anytime, thus overcoming the barriers of time and distance.

Healthcare being one of the priorities of the state government, it is determined to provide better specialised facilities in healthcare system to rural masses at cheaper cost, the minister said. ‘‘Televital will play an important role in the delivery of technology in healthcare. We are planning to provide this facility by networking all the district and taluk hospitals and all other pubic health centres in the panchayat levels. Initially we are looking at Hubli and Dharwad,’’ he said.

Director of Medical Education, Government of Karnataka, Dr Seethalaxmi said, ‘‘Telemedicine is already present in a small way in the eight government hospitals in Karnataka and with Televital, we see scope for implementing telemedicine on a larger scale.’’

Televital Inc was founded with the vision of empowering medical service providers with the potential life saving, time saving and cost saving tools and services to monitor, diagnose, treat and manage patients without the barriers of time and distance. It specializes in providing a browser based integrated electronic patient care system. Real time streaming can take place over broadband networks or DSL lines, dial-up modems or 2.4K Iridium based satellite phones. The acquired vital data can be securely viewed using a PC or handheld device by medical experts who can be anywhere in the world. Multiple doctors in a conference mode can view the same data.

Speaking on the occasion, Rajan K Pillay, CEO and director, Indian operations of Televital said, ‘‘The technology is very useful in a situation where it is not practical for everyone to build speciality hospitals.’’

Televital has built a working relationship with NASA for their applications. It can regulate hospital application anywhere in the world and provide medical connectivity like pulmonary functional testing, anesthesiological monitoring and so on. The company is also looking at providing remote training and supervision in medical schools.

‘‘We are initially looking at healthcare organisations in the South for our technology. Telemedicine can carry total medical specialities like emergency healthcare, home healthcare and distance education. The technology is viable for a country like India which has 23,000 PHCs, district hospitals, multi speciality and super speciality hospitals with one doctor for every 15,500 persons as against one doctor for every 500 persons in the developed countries. However we need to provide error free and reliable information with user friendly medical technology to increase diagnostic medical efficiency,’’ said Prof M N Shivaram, vice president, India operations.

‘‘What we need is proactive support from the centre and state governments. We are planning to go for a contract with ISRO to provide medical education link for teaching hospitals,’’ he added.

In India, Televital recently established a link between Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, a 800-bed multi-speciality hospital at Kochi with the Amrita Kripa Charitable Hosptal at a remote village called Vallikavu, a distance of about 150 kms to provide medical speciality consultation to the rural area in real time. Televital plans to expand its network to Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Lakshadweep. In future Televital is looking at foraying into some of the future segments like home healthcare, clinical trials, remote care for travel industry and correctional facilities.