"The process of recruiting technicians and medical experts is underway. The remaining RHs and PHCs would soon be covered in its ambit one by one," said H.H. Chavan, chief health officer, Pune Zilla Parishad.

"We have started equipping the PHC and RH with diagnostic machines as well. The technician will carry out test with the help of doctors at the respective PHC or RH and reports would be digitally transferred to medical experts at Aundh Hospital and Bharati Hospital -- the two designated telemedicine headquarters in the city," he said.

Explaining the concept of telemedicine, Chavan said telemedicine is a rapidly developing application of clinical medicine where medical information is transferred via telephone, the internet or other networks for the purpose of consulting, and sometimes remote medical procedures or examinations.

"Telemedicine may be as simple as two health professionals discussing a case over the telephone, or as complex as using satellite technology and video-conferencing equipment to conduct a real-time consultation between a general practitioners and a medical specialist for the delivery of clinical care," said Chavan.

Elaborating on the expected benefits of the project, Chavan said the concept will go a long way in providing rural people with accurate and precise medical consultation which was hitherto impossible in villages.

"Most of the villagers run from pillar to post in quest of a cure to their ailments. They use every possible drug in desperation. This eventually affect their health and still the cure they are looking for, remains elusive in the absence of a medical expert at PHC and RH," explains Chavan. By the time such a patients reaches a big hospital in the city, the chances of his getting cured
are already dwindled, he added.

Commenting on how the telemedicine project has benefited the rural people coming to the PHC in Khed Shivapur, Ajit Karanjkar, a medical officer with the PHC said, "Around 10 people in and around Khed Shivapur receive expert medical consultation through the project every day." The Zilla Parishad first equipped our PHC with essential diagnostic equipment like X-ray, ECG machines and testing facilities to check blood, stool, urine and sputum.