Chhattisgarh starts telemedicine service amid Covid-19 lockdown

Surajpur is the first district to use this mechanism of online diagnosis and treatment of common people through a digital platform.

Updated on: Apr 18, 2020, 13:56:56 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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The Chhattisgarh government has launched a telemedicine service in Surajpur district to cater to those with common illnesses during the Covid-19 lockdown, officials said on Saturday.

Chhattisgarh government has launched a telemedicine service in Surajpur district to cater to those with common illnesses during the Covid-19 lockdown (ANI)

Surajpur is the first district to use this mechanism of online diagnosis and treatment of common people through a digital platform.

“At this juncture when the focus has shifted entirely to tackling Covid cases, it is important to not ignore other health ailments which might impact the general health of the populace,” Deepak Soni, Surajpur’s collector, said while speaking to HT.

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An ailing person can register themselves and can avail the services of health experts at the district hospital through mobile-based video conferencing.

Soni said the link to the service is available on the district’s official website. Once a person registers, they will receive an OTP on their mobile phone and after accepting it they will automatically move to a video call platform where a doctor can diagnose them.

“After the diagnosis, the prescription is prepared by the doctor and free home delivery of medicines is made through Jan Aushadhi Kendra which has been linked to the system. The prescribed medicines are delivered to the patient free of cost within an hour after diagnosis,” he said.

“The system supplements our efforts of the door to door active surveillance as the records generated are analysed to see if there are any symptoms of Covid-19 among the patients which are getting screened through this telemedicine module,” said the collector.

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The collector added that the district’s Red Cross Society was very helpful in chalking out the telemedicine module.

“We are happy to support the telemedicine initiative of the district administration,” RS Singh, member secretary of the Red Cross Society, said.

“Our team of volunteers will assist in delivering the medicines to the doorstep of the patient as per the prescription of the doctor. It will prove to be a boon to the people in this difficult time,” Singh said.

Chhattisgarh health officials said the government is all set to launch the telemedicine service in all districts of the state.

“We have tied already tied-up with telemedicine group, which government of India is promoting. Doctors are also enrolled in that and through 104 services we are launching it,” Niharika Barik Singh, health secretary, said.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur, had started its telemedicine service on April 3.

The Union health ministry recently issued telemedicine guidelines according to which doctors will be able to write prescriptions based on telephonic, textual or video conversations — chat, images, messaging, emails, fax and others.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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