Bengaluru: E-hospital programme in 206 community health centres and 2,353 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) at an estimated cost of Rs. 13.78 crore was approved by the Karnataka Cabinet yesterday. Under the programme, taluk-level and district-level hospitals will be linked to medical colleges through tele-medicine.

Once the project is implemented, taluk-level hospitals can connect with specialist doctors at district headquarters or in cities like Mysuru and Bengaluru in case specialists are not available in rural areas. With the facility, taluk hospitals can act as per the guidance given by experts or shift the patient to cities for better treatment.

The e-hospital programme will help the Health Department to utilise the health information of every patient visiting government hospitals. It will also help them in grant-based supply of medicines where essential medicines will be made to all hospitals as per the requirements.

To provide information and communication infrastructure in rural areas, the Cabinet approved a grant of Rs. 79 crore for providing Wi-Fi service through BSNL in rural areas.

Other Cabinet decisions include approval for holding vendor development and investors summit in Bengaluru, with an outlay of Rs. 15 crore, approval for distribution of milk on five days a week to students in class 1 to class 10 in government and aided schools from July 17  under Ksheera Bhagya Scheme that will cost the government Rs. 285 crore.

The Cabinet also approved the extension of Mathrupoorna Scheme to all 30 districts in the State and providing hot meals to pregnant women and lactating mothers under ICDS with a cost of Rs. 202 crore.