Implementation of Telemedicine Networks in India
- Paper number
IAC-07-A1.8.02
- Author
Mr. R.L.N. Murthy, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India
- Coauthor
Mr. L.S. Sathya Murthy, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India
- Coauthor
Mr. Hanumantha Rayappa, India
- Coauthor
Mr. Ravi Saksena, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India
- Year
2007
- Abstract
With the successful completion of SATellite based communication (SATcom) technology based applications like Training and Development Communication Channel (TDCC) programme followed by Jhabhua Development and Community Programme (JDCP) in the central state (Madhya Pradesh) in India for Space based rural Development Initiative, Indian Space research Organisation (ISRO) has initiated Telemedicine programme in the year 2001 for connecting Rural/Remote hospitals/health Centres with Speciality Hospitals located in urban areas. ISRO’s Telemedicine initiative has been broadly divided into the following areas Providing Technology and connectivity (a) between remote/rural hospital and Super Speciality Hospital for Teleconsultation, Treatment, (b) for Continuing Medical Education (CME) between Medical Colleges and Post Graduate Medical Institutions/Hospitals; (c) for Mobile Telemedicine units for rural health camps especially in the areas of ophthalmology and community health, (d) for Disaster Management Support and Relief. The implementation began by establishing the proof of concept technology demonstration, through pilot projects, where in, the total solution viz., the connectivity, the hardware and software along with standard medical equipment and training provided by ISRO in association with the healthcare providers in different parts of the country. This has created awareness about the utility of Telemedicine among the medical community as well as the patient/user community. This was followed by evolution of suitable guidelines and standards for Practice of telemedicine in India. Based on the successful pilot projects, it has been possible to take the system into an operational mode. In this phase, different state governments have come forward to expand their networks, by organising their own infrastructure backed by the charge free connectivity from ISRO. ISRO has kept the momentum on, by organising different workshops and user seminars involving the users and non-users to spread the message of benefits and draw the lessons for improved utilisation and management. Some of the noteworthy efforts by ISRO include – adapting different technologies from time to time, efforts to reduce the costs and bring in cost effective solutions, to meet the socio-economic considerations. The applications include the areas of Cardiology, Radiology, Pathology, Ophthalmology, oncology etc. both in real time as well as in the store and forward mode. The technology adopted during the initial phase of the programme was a point-to-point system and this was progressively enhanced to multipoint-to-multipoint system. This was further substantiated by the adoptation of SATcom based Mobile Telemedicine facility to reach out to the doorsteps of the rural population. The paper will bring out the systematic approach followed by ISRO, the progress in the implementation achieved by an integrated team from ISRO, the Industry, the Medical community and Health Administrators and the plans for future.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
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