26.01.2014 Views

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

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

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!