Vol. II: Shaping Information and Communication ... - IMA,ZLW & IfU
Vol. II: Shaping Information and Communication ... - IMA,ZLW & IfU
Vol. II: Shaping Information and Communication ... - IMA,ZLW & IfU
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
189<br />
Ten specialists [two each from each category] have been chosen from Dermatology,<br />
Nephrology, Neurology, Cardiology <strong>and</strong> Gastro logy. Doctors at the PHCs will refer<br />
complicated cases to the specialists in major cities who in turn will give their advice within 24<br />
hours.<br />
A doctor at PHC can upload relevant medical reports of his patient using the structured format<br />
provided by the software. The doctor can attach images [electrocardiograms, X-Rays,<br />
Pathology reports, etc]. The Specialist contacted is expected to respond to the case within 24<br />
hours. In case a reply doesn't come <strong>and</strong> this fact is brought to the notice of its call-Centre, the<br />
portal ensures that a reply is forthcoming within the next 36 hours. Payment to the specialist<br />
is made by DoctorAnywhere.com <strong>and</strong> subtracted from a deposit amount collected from the<br />
doctor/PHC subscribing to the service.<br />
Hardware requirements are:<br />
−<br />
−<br />
−<br />
An Internet enabled PC<br />
A modem<br />
A web camera to take digital clinical images<br />
The service is initially available at the PHCs at Hole in Baramati tehsil, Otur in Junnar tehsil<br />
<strong>and</strong> Nirgudsar in Ambegaon tehsil within a month <strong>and</strong> in another 40 PHCs within a year.<br />
Pune District officials hope to catapult all 88 PHCs into the wired world.<br />
Impact<br />
The concept has been greeted with widespread interest, <strong>and</strong> doctors from neighbouring<br />
centres have started coming here on ‘sightseeing’ visits. Adds Dr Suresh Dhotre, District<br />
Medical Officer, “So enthusiastic is the response that we are already installing computers in<br />
six more PHCs.''<br />
States like Jammu <strong>and</strong> Kashmir (J&K) <strong>and</strong> Andhra Pradesh are monitoring the experiment.<br />
Says Mathur of DoctorAnywhere, who was amazed that the bureaucrats actually took the<br />
initiative. “The ripple effect is remarkable.''<br />
“We have already trained 12 government doctors to use the computers <strong>and</strong> web-cameras,''<br />
says Mathur, admitting that he was dazed by the speed of developments. “A h<strong>and</strong>ful of