Telemedicine boost: Over 1,800 patients benefit from free expert consultation
Nagpur: In just three months, Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) telemedicine initiative provided free expert medical consultation to 1,821 patients across the city, bringing much-needed relief to economically disadvantaged families.
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The initiative, launched under the leadership of municipal commissioner and administrator Dr Abhijit Chaudhary, aims to offer quality healthcare to underprivileged citizens through virtual consultations with specialist doctors from across the country. Supported by Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) under its CSR fund and operated by the Digiswasthya Foundation, the program currently runs at two Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) — Gittikhadan and Jagnath Budhwari.
One of the most heartwarming success stories is that of 11-month-old Angel, a resident of Itwari, who was suffering from severe eye pain. Her parents, daily wage labourers, were unable to afford specialist treatment until they were guided to the Jagnath Budhwari UPHC. There, through video conferencing, Dr Ruchi Sharma from Delhi diagnosed and treated Angel free of charge, leading to her full recovery.
Similar outcomes were reported in other cases.
Two-year-old Aryan, suffering from fever and sudden swelling, was referred for kidney function tests based on a telemedicine consultation. He was later successfully treated at a govt hospital. Kiran Ram, 13, battling chronic fatigue and weakness, regained her health after receiving timely advice through the service.
Adults have also benefited from the service. Sheela Gokhale, 33, received dermatological treatment for persistent skin issues.
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Nanda Hedau, 35, suffering from excessive bleeding, was diagnosed and referred for further tests and care. Meanwhile, 55-year-old Rajendra Uke was cured of intense abdominal pain following a specialist consultation.
Doctors from metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Gurugram, Ahmedabad, and Surat have participated in the programme, providing virtual consultation in specialties such as gynaecology, cardiology, dermatology, neurology, paediatrics, ENT, gastroenterology, nephrology, and more.
According to NMC, Gittikhadan UPHC has so far catered to 948 patients, while Jagnath Budhwari has assisted 873 through the telemedicine facility.
The success of the project has provided impetus to expansion plans. Additional commissioner Vasumana Pant and medical health officer Dr Deepak Selokar have confirmed that telemedicine units will soon become operational in at least one UPHC in each municipal zone.
What Is Telemedicine?
The NMC telemedicine facility connects patients at local health centres to expert doctors via video conferencing. If needed, patients are referred for further tests or surgeries, with support from govt schemes such as Ayushman Bharat and the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana. The consultations are conducted on designated days from 9am to 2pm, with follow-ups to ensure effective treatment.
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