With Covid-19 pandemic accelerating the adoption of digital health technologies, the Government will on Monday launch a telemedicine project at AIIMS, Raipur in Chhattisgarh to ensure safe access and deliver specialized medical services right at the doorsteps of the members of the fisheries cooperatives in the State.

Union Minister for Fisheries, Parshottam Rupala,  will inaugurate the telemedicine facilities to be implemented  under the central sector flagship program Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) through the National Cooperatives Development Corporation (NCDC), for members of the fisheries cooperatives in the Northern State.

Proposed as a startup activity by AIIMS, Raipur for next three years, the project  which is a joint effort of the Centre, the State, NCDC and AIIMS Raipur, is being launched in a pilot mode from five centres ---PHC Patan (Durg district), PHC Saja (Bemetara), PHC Ratanpur (Bilaspur), PHC Dhamtari (Chamtari) and AIIMS Raipur (Raipur). Later, it will cover more districts.

NCDC MD  Sundeep Nayak said that in the pandemic , it's a difficult time for the people particularly poor  who are not able to access healthcare. However, “ the use of telemedicine has emerged as a critical tool to improve the provision of health services. With the launch of the facilities, the Government aims to bridge health disparities among fishermen and fisherwomen communities associated with their respective cooperatives in the State,” he said.

The decision to launch the telemedicine facility was taken after it was found that many members from the cooperatives were shying away from availing medical services either because of living in far off areas, poverty or due to Covid fears.

Dr Nitin Nagarkar said that AIIMS, Raipur had already been conducting teleconsultation services for the benefit of the public, mainly residing in the tribal regions of the State. This activity was also further enhanced during this ongoing Covid pandemic.