Installation process on the project is in progress which is expected to be completed within next one and half month. Then the trial phase would start to check the performance of the project, costing Rs. 59 million, General Manager, Project and Technologies at USF, Syed Asif Kamal said.
The contract between Oratier Technologies and USF has already been signed after its approval by the Board of USF.
Giving details about the project, he said through the project, USF aims to demonstrate that the optic fiber and the broadband networks being funded can easily be used for providing e-healthcare facilities.
Asif Kamal said Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center- Karachi, Nishtar Medical College-Multan and Holy Family Hospital-Rawalpindi are being connected with 12 remote sites to set up three pilot telemedicine networks.
Remote sites in the pilot project include Thatta, Dadu, Badin, Nowshehro Feroz, Chakwal, Talagang, Murree, Domail, Vehari, Khanewal, Lodhran and Muzaffargarh, he said and added each of these remote sites will provide facilities of digital stethoscope, digital derma-scope, portable ultrasound, digital ECG and customized telemedicine software to the patients at their hometowns including video consultations with the specialists sitting in the three main hospitals.
He said the higher authorities have directed the USF that steps should also be taken to include flood stricken districts like Nawabshah, Mirpur Khas, Umerkot and Sanghar in the telemedicine network. Inclusion of cities of Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan, Rajanpur, DG Khan, Qadirpur, Shujabad, Mianwali and Kharian is also being planned. He said as for the rest of the USF programmes, in broadband programme, 256 previously unserved towns now have more than 334,000 USF-funded broadband connections.
Subsidy winning service-providers are obliged to provide free broadband internet to all higher-secondary schools, libraries and colleges in their areas, he added.
Asif Kamal said so far 943 such educational institutions have been covered. In Optic Fiber Connectivity Program, 3,630 Kms of Optic Fiber Cables have been laid through subsidy contracts which will connect 102 unserved Tehsils with 6,523 kms of cables, mainly in Balochistan.
He said to take broadband internet to the villages, USF has launched another programme. A pilot project of that programme is also under implementation aiming to bring the most modern e-Services through broadband, down to the village level.
Asif Kamal said that with such constant efforts, the USF will undertake more programmes in the future for the promotion of telecom related services.
He said that the Fund will keep serving as a source of inspiration for everyone.
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Quelle/Source: Pakistan Observer, 20.12.2011
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