The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘104’ telemedicine service soon: YSR

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Friday, Aug 22, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘104’ telemedicine service soon: YSR

Staff Reporter

Turns doctor as he tests a few patients

NARSARAOPET: For a few moments, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy turned a doctor as he tested few patients at the Rajiv Arogyasri medical camp held on the grounds of P.N.C & K.R College on Thursday afternoon.

Wearing the doctor’s coat and a stethoscope, Dr. Reddy listened patiently as four persons along with their children poured out their woes. ``My five-year old son is suffering from congenital heart problem. They have referred the case to Medicity Hospitals at Hyderabad,” said Venkat Rao.

A woman, Saiduvali, holding her daughter who was born differently abled, approached the Chief Minister for help. Dr. Reddy said that the case was a bit complicated as the girl was suffering from both hearing and speaking ailments. He assured that the State Government would bear the expenses required for a surgical procedure which cost about Rs.6 lakhs and said that if necessary the services of an overseas doctor would be used.

Addressing the beneficiaries, Mr. Reddy said that the State Government would soon introduce `104’ telemedicine facility which envisaged mobile clinic facilities to all villages, which were more than 3 k.m away from the nearest P.H.Cs. The State had allotted Rs.120 crores for the facility.

Arogyasri

Reiterating that Arogyasri had successfully achieved the target of providing corporate health facilities to B.P.L families, the Chief Minister said that 873 ailments had been covered under the scheme and the Government had allotted Rs.1000 crore budget every year.

Arogyasri Health Care Trust C.E.O A. Babu said that 7.5 lakh patients have been screened so far.

Damp conditions persisting throughout the day did not deter scores of patients suffering from various ailments visiting the premises of the college. The overnight heavy downpour threw all the arrangements at the mini stadium into hay wire and the officials shifted the venue at the last minute. Ministers Galla Aruna Kumari, Kasu Krishna Reddy, Kanna Lakshminarayana, M.P M. Rajamohana Reddy, M.L.As M. Mallikarjuna Rao, Y. Venkateswara Reddy and District Collector B. Venkatesham were present.

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