Intel technology helps enable health care access to people in rural Karnataka

Mangalore, November 17: A joint telemedicine initiative of Intel Corporation and Government of Karnataka has been launched in Angodu village and Harihar town of Davangere district.

With this first of its kind project in Karnataka, the company aims at providing essential technology support in IT infrastructure and offsite technological support.

The project in association with the Government of Karnataka aims at enabling transmission of patient's medical records, including image and live two way audio and video communication. By this consultation of the best cardiac surgeons will be made possible at the rural level.

By this Intel has provided the necessary IT infrastructure and offsite technical resources. Other likeminded services from Tata Consultancy services, HCIT edu and S N Informatics have also joined in to enhance the scope of clinical diagnostics.

R Ravichandran, Director of Sales, South Asia said, “This project will bring the benefits of technology to the interiors of the country. Intel has long been committed to changing people's lives through technology and this is another step in that direction”

Telemedicine is a technology that enables transmission of services including diagnostics remotely. Consultants from major medical centres can connect to the rural patients and also get information about the patients through online database by connecting through real time audio and video facilities.

Thus latest developments in medicine are made available to the villagers. The ECG facility provided at the Hospital is free of cost and any patient who comes undergoes the basic tests and if anything serious is suspected they make use of the ECG facility.

As a unique highlight of this pilot project the health centres were provided with audio and video transmission so that patient's records could be sent to the specialists at Narayana Hrudayalaya, Bangalore. Using this data, the hospital specialists analyse the ECGs and provide consultation to the rural patients. More than 5000 patients have already benefited at Angodu Primary Health Centre and Harihara Taluk Hospital.

Eminent heart surgeon from Narayana Hrudayalaya Dr Devi Shetty informed, “Through our Tele ECG network hundreds of ECGs from inside and outside India can be diagnosed and thus we are able to save many lives by preventing heart attacks.”

This first of its kind initiative by Intel and other ecosystem players can potentially be helpful to millions of Indians as it proves to be economically viable for the rural population. When the project is extended to all the villages it can be a door opener for a healthy rural India.