AMC seeks integration of telemedicine prog

Visakhapatnam: The Andhra Medical College has urged the state government to integrate the state’s telemedicine services with their system in an attempt to reach out to more people seeking medical advice.
The state government had launched the YSR Telemedicine programme last week to provide out-patient services during the lockdown by making doctors available online.The programme aimed at identifying and isolating positive coronavirus (Covid-19) patients.
Persons with symptoms need to give a missed call on the toll-free number 14410 following which an executive will call back and collect details of the person and a doctor will respond through video conference and prescribe medicines or tests required through SMS. Symptomatic patients will be sent to public health centres (PHCs) or hospitals for treatment.
Speaking to TOI, principal of AMC Dr P V Sudhakar said, “Telemedicine services have been operational for the past four months under Ayushman Bharat. Since the number of cases is on the rise, we have requested for an integrated system so that calls from people in and around Vizag can be directed to our system.”
“AMC has a team of six medical professionals for the services including a physician, paediatrician, gynaecologist and three other general medicine doctors. For Covid-19 assistance, we have made available a pulmonologist. The services are available from 8 am to 6 pm daily,” He added.
This facility will help elderly people or people who are alone, Dr Sudhakar added.