HYDERABAD: Whether it's a minor headache or a severe accident, the doctor's advise will just be a phone-call away, come January.

A team of 40 doctors including specialists will be available 24x7 through a four-digit health helpline to be set up by the State Government and a private agency.Satyam Foundation is said to be the private partner. The range of specialists handling queries at the helpline centre will include paediatricians and gynaecologists apart from general physicians. "The helpline will provide the first line of consultancy to callers," Commissioner of Family Welfare, CBS Venkata Ramana told The Hindu . Information about nearby super-speciality doctors and hospitals will also be given for further reference.

Necessary data is being compiled from various associations of private hospitals and nursing homes

across the State. Data from surrounding States to aid those living on the Andhra Pradesh border is also being collected. Currently, the database has 4,500 practicing doctors and hospitals for admissions and in-house care of patients, which includes members of the Indian Medical Association and State chapters of Association of Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society of India and others.

"First-aid instructions for emergencies will also be provided," Mr. Ramana said. In case of an accident, the doctors will give instructions to people on the spot till an EMRI 108 ambulance reaches them.

The helpline will function as a call centre, where a customer care executive will take down basic details of the caller and transfer the same to the specialist concerned at the helpline. "An appropriate name for the helpline and a protocol for doctors is being worked out," he added.

According to Mr. Ramana, the private partner will provide the technology for the service.

"Three-fourth of the initiative is based on software expertise. Using Geographical Information Systems, location of the caller will be known and will be advised accordingly," he said.

The State Government is targeting the entire rural and urban slum areas in AP that lack good health facilities, Mr. Ramana said. However, with the facility being Hyderabad-based, the urban population can also reap the benefits.

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