ISRO signs pacts with four speciality hospitals

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Tuesday signed MoUs with four speciality hospitals to expand its telemedicine network.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Tuesday signed memoranda of understanding with four speciality hospitals to expand its telemedicine network.

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The four hospitals are Manipal Hospital in Bangalore, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, Madras Diabetic Research Foundation in Chennai and Dr Venkatrao Dawle Medical Foundation at Ambajogai in Maharashtra, ISRO said.

ISRO's satellite-based telemedicine network, which started in 2001 on an experimental basis, is aimed at linking remote and rural hospitals with super-speciality facilities in major cities via INSAT.

While ISRO provides the software, hardware, communication equipment and satellite bandwidth, the speciality hospitals provide the infrastructure and manpower and maintain the system.

The MoUs were signed at Antariksh Bhavan, the headquarters of the space agency, by A Bhaskaranarayana, Director of the Satellite Communications Programme on behalf of ISRO, and R Basil, Director and CEO of Manipal Health Systems, T Jagannathan, Chief Administrative Officer of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, V Mohan, President and Director of Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and Arun Dawle, Executive President of Dr Venkatrao Dawle Medical Foundation.