The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Doctors hook up using Internet

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 16, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Doctors hook up using Internet

M. Dinesh Varma

Now, even inter-continental meets can be organised using satellites Now, even inter-continental meets can be held using satellites Though launched on a small scale for around 15 doctors, the success of the experiment has encouraged thoughts of more frequent meetings

CHENNAI: In the future, clinical fora may not take place in spacious halls packed to capacity with delegates. No expensive accommodation or hectic travel will be involved nor will be the sponsorship of a multinational firm.

The only requirements will be the spatial equivalent of a consulting room and a broadband connection. And doctors separated by great distances will be able to make common cause. What is more, the nuances of a complex surgery performed at a hospital in the United States can be viewed in real time by an audience here.

On Wednesday, MedIndia Hospitals took the lead in organising a Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme via videoconferencing on `Recent trends in the medical management of gastric motility disorders' for doctors spread across four locations in the city. Though launched on a small scale for around 15 doctors, who gathered at Reliance Web World outfits in T. Nagar, Alwarpet, Anna Nagar, Park Town and Spencer Plaza, the success of the experiment has encouraged thoughts of more frequent meetings.

Boon for rural doctors

Using satellite communication, inter-city, inter-State and even inter-continental CMEs could be conducted, said T. S. Chandrashekar, interventional gastroenterologist, MedIndia Hospitals. "These virtual CMEs will be a boon for General Practitioners in rural areas." There were also plans to hold a similar forum for the public. They will help not only doctors but also patients in rural areas by allowing them to link up with urban hospitals for expert counsel.

A. Muruganathan, president, Medical Council of India, said that such meets should become regular features.

There were 140 chapters of the Indian Medical Association, representing an estimated 17,000 doctors in the State. Practitioners in small towns should have a periodic forum for clarifying doubts and improving their practice.

To the doctors sitting in various locations, Dr. Chandrasekar explained about common gastrointestinal disorders. Patient education and updating the knowledge of physicians were important in managing silent killers such as cancer or liver disease, he said.

The U.S. situation

A.B. Samiappan, a gastroenterologist based in New Jersery, U.S., pointed out how it was mandatory for practitioners there to undergo stipulated hours of medical education every year and renew their licences.

The Stanley Medical College alumnus also spoke about the various checks and balances in clinical practice in the U.S.

Dr. Samiappan said that doctors were barred from starting a hospital, pharmacy or diagnostic laboratory, and a physician could not accept a fee for referring a patient to a specialist.

Documentation was regarded sacrosanct and a doctor had to stick to the code in International Classification of Disease and Current Procedural Terminology throughout treatment.

Cost factor

The average cost of the CME worked out to around Rs. 1,500 a centre for an hour, said B. Vittal Kumar of Abbott India, a Chicago-based company, that hosted the event.

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