The project spearhead by C-DAC uses integrated webbased telemedicine solution e-Dhanwanthari and the success of the pilot project launched in Kannur Central Prison has boosted the statewide roll out. “The telemedicine system includes the software, communication network and medical equipment such as digital ECG and tele-radiology.
The patients case sheet can be sent in a digitised format to healthcare experts who will diagnose the disease, suggest therapy and provide consultations at the hospital,” P J Biju, senior engineer, Medical Informatics, C-DAC, said. He said that C-DAC had already carried out the feasibility study in Poojappura Central Prison, Viyyur Central Prison, Nettukaltheri Open Jail and the Open Jail in Cheemeni.
“e-Dhanwanthari works on open source frame work and is developed by C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram, as part of the rural telemedicine project, supported by Media Lab Asia, Department of Information Technology,” he said. Currently, the ailing inmates are taken to hospitals for consultations with specialists and majority of the cases pertain to psychiatry and orthopaedics.
Inmates are also taken to hospitals for pathological tests and radiography. Sivadas K Thaiparambil, DIG Prisons (North Zone), said that the telemedicine system introduced in the Kannur Central prison six months ago was running successfully and aided prisoners, particularly those suffering from psychiatric disorders. “The main advantage is that it helps to cut cost. When an ailing prisoner is transported, police have to provide him escort. After the telemedicine system was introduced, it helped to cut down cost as well as the risk element associated with the prisoner’s escape,” he said.
Ashokan Arippa, superintendent in-charge, Kannur Central Prison, said that around 100 patients were treated via the telemedicine system on a weekly basis, with specialist doctors in Kozhikode Medical College, Kozhikode Mental Health Hospital and also Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram. “Most of the patients here have mental disorders and the telemedicine system has proved very beneficial to treat them. It is also useful for follow up consultation for which otherwise we have to take the jail inmate to the specialist doctor,” he said. Ashokan said that after the implementation of the project, over 1,000 jail inmates had used expert healthcare through the telemedicine.
“We had always faced shortage of adequate police personnel to accompany the prisoners to the hospitals and after the introduction of telemedicine, a patient is taken to the hospital only in cases which require direct treatment,” he said.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Arun Jayan
Quelle/Source: The New Indian Express, 12.05.2013
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