Date:30/06/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/06/30/stories/2005063001190200.htm

Back Chennai's SRMC establishes telemedicine centre in Kolkata

Our Bureau

Kolkata , June 29

THE Chennai-based Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre (SRMC) has set up an information-cum-telemedicine centre in Kolkata in association with the United Health Care Services.

The Harvard Medical International Associated institution would focus more on specific areas of healthcare such as interventional neuro-radiology, paediatric cardiology, advanced orthopaedics and infertility, according to Dr P.V. Vijayaraghavan of Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute.

Addressing presspersons here, Dr Vijayaraghavan said similar collaborative initiatives have already been taken with hospitals in North Bengal and Durgapur. The idea was to leverage upon the gathered experience and expertise in medical education and convert it into tangible and affordable healthcare for the community. "Telemedicine is the only answer in the country like ours where distances are great and where the availability of medical and diagnostic facilities is few and far between," he said.

According to him, a customised software has been developed whereby SRMC can connect with 99 telemedicine centres in distance mode. Already, tie-ups have been formalised with about 30 such telemedicine centres in distance mode. However, a lot of "concept selling" was required to be done before tele-consultation and telemedicine could find ready acceptance among the general public.

"A small beginning has been made and we are sure the initiative will find greater acceptance among the targeted clientele in the days ahead," Dr Vijayaraghavan said.

He added that SRMC was focused on propagating the concept of medical consultation and telemedicine in distance mode. A revenue model in this regard would be worked out at a later date, Dr Vijayaraghavan said.