CHCs, district hosps to get telemedicineservices soon

Lucknow: The state health and family welfare department is all set to extend telemedicine services to a network of 976 community health centres (CHCs) and 300 district hospitals with a bed strength of 200 or more across Uttar Pradesh.Speaking to TOI, additional chief secretary Amit Kumar Ghosh said, "To support the scale-up, NHM-UP is moving towards adopting cloud-based systems to ensure faster, secure and scalable services, in order to strengthen access to specialist care in remote areas." He added that the department has already floated a tender. He further said that telemedicine has emerged as a key pillar in improving healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved regions. "The expansion will help bridge gaps in access by enabling real-time consultations and reducing the burden on tertiary care facilities," he said. With existing capacity already stretched, officials noted that demand for cloud infrastructure has risen sharply, driven by the increasing use of e-governance platforms and digital health applications. The empanelment will create a pool of pre-qualified technology providers capable of delivering secure and compliant cloud solutions tailored to public health requirements. These providers will be evaluated on technical expertise, data security standards and regulatory compliance. Officials said cloud adoption will enable real-time data access, efficient patient record management and improved coordination across health facilities. It will also support critical functions such as e-prescriptions, monitoring and referral systems under the expanded telemedicine network. The initiative is aligned with broader efforts to modernise governance through digital tools, improve operational efficiency and enhance service delivery. Authorities added that the model will remain flexible and project-specific, ensuring scalability without long-term contractual constraints. With the twin push of telemedicine expansion and cloud integration, Uttar Pradesh aims to build a robust, technology-driven public health system capable of meeting rising demand while improving patient outcomes.