All Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in the State will get telemedicine facility within six months, according to Health and Family Welfare Minister K.R. Ramesh Kumar.

Speaking at the launch of Primary Health Centre Management Information System at Vidhana Soudha, Ramesh Kumar said that the new initiative would facilitate patients at the PHCs to avail the advice and guidance of senior and experienced doctors.

“The government will provide an ambulance for every 15 km distance in rural areas and an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at every taluk hospital in the State,” he said.

The Minister said that each ambulance vehicle would have one trained nurse apart from other technicians and equipment. “The ICUs at all taluk hospitals will have all facilities, especially for asthma patients. Instead of blaming private hospitals for collecting exorbitant fees, it is better to provide facilities for those who cannot go to private hospitals for treatment. We have to prove that government hospitals too can provide good and quality treatment for the patients,” the Minister said.

Advising the doctors, nurses and other technicians to work hard to provide better and quality treatment at Government Hospitals, the Minister said that the Health Department officials have to avail funds from corporate companies under the CSR scheme to ensure medical facilities for the patients.

The Health and Family Welfare Department has signed an MoU with Samsung Research and Development Institute (SRI) that aims to enable efficient management of public healthcare facilities.

As part of the agreement, SRI handed over 1,000 Samsung Tabs. Tab IRIS is approved by UIDAI for Aadhaar and KYC verification, and would enable PHCs in the State to build their database in a digital format. The tab will help staff collect and compile data of patients besides connect to virtual clinics to ensure better treatment. All the data will be uploaded to a common server through the tab. This will help give further treatment and also refer cases.

Ramesh said that the facility should be extended to all 2,353 PHCs in the State. “I do not hesitate in saying that the government, at present, is not in a position to afford this technology. CSR initiatives are welcome,” he said.