Telemedicine, as defined by the World Health Organisation, is the delivery of healthcare services when distance is a critical factor using information and technologies for exchange of relevant information to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

A not for profit organisation, SSA has been working with major hospitals in Gujarat to provide super speciality consultation to the people living in remote areas of the State. Dr Mukesh Bhagat, CEO of SSA-India, says,”Telemedicine is a necessity in India and we are providing these services in Gujarat. Providing the end user specialty consultation even when he is far away from a specialty hospital can be of great service in rural areas.”

SSA-India has so far opened 14 centres in the State and is looking to add another 100 in a years time. It has tie-ups with 10 major hospitals in State and by next year it plans to have within its fold 50 specialty hospitals.

A typical telemedicine centre is connected to the hospital through ISDN/VSAT or telephone line. Medical reports of the patient are scanned and transmitted and the patient is able to share his problem with the doctor through video conferencing.

Based on the data sent, patient’s statements and the option of the local doctor who is also present there the specialist gives his advise. This is again scanned and sent to the peripheral centre and a copy is made available to the patient. Monitoring and follow up is done accordingly. Dr Anshul Warman, dermatologist at the Apollo Hospital, said,”I have found tele consultations to be very useful. It can help in monitoring disease incidence patterns in remote areas or identifying occupational skin diseases patterns in groups like salt workers.”

While telemedicine promises to provide high quality consultations in remote areas some practical difficulties remain. Patients are a little skeptical about sharing their medical details with doctors without actually meeting them. Awareness in rural areas about this is very low and at the hospital end issues like financial viability of long distance consultations and payment gateways remains unresolved.