The Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council, an autonomous agency under India's Department of Science and Technology, has launched a telehealth programme to serve patients living in rural areas.

TIFAC has designed the project in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing in Mohali, an autonomous scientific society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

The programme has been recently introduced at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi.

WHAT IT'S ABOUT

According to a news report, the pilot digital health programme is a scalable "plug and play" model to provide healthcare to disadvantaged women and children in rural areas. 

Its key offerings include patient examination with wearable devices and health data transfer via the e-Sanjeevani doctor-to-patient telemedicine system. It will be able to track the following physiologic parameters: ECG, heart rate, blood pressure, lipid profile, haemoglobin and foetal doppler.

In the initial phase, the project will cover about 60,000 patients across three districts, namely Varanasi and Gorakhpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh and Kamjong in Manipur.

WHY IT MATTERS

Quoting Amit Rastogi, a professor at BHU and the telehealth project's local convener in Varanasi, the news report noted that around 65% of India's population live in rural villages where better access to healthcare is "needed".  

Another news report quoted Dr Jitendra Singh, union minister of state for Science and Technology, as saying that new technologies such as telemedicine will help the country save between $4-5 billion each year. 

THE LARGER CONTEXT

By end-September last year, the Indian government formally implemented its National Digital Health Mission which seeks to bridge the gap among stakeholders in the local healthcare ecosystem through digital means. According to Dr Singh, one focus of the national programme is to ensure accessible and affordable healthcare delivery, especially for those living in rural and remote communities.

Meanwhile, three in four Indian healthcare leaders who were previously surveyed by Royal Philips said they have regarded the shift to remote or virtual care as a top priority, although some have admitted being challenged by slow internet and connectivity issues.