National
Railways to expand telemedicine network

New Delhi (PTI): Taking medical facilities to far-flung areas, the Indian Railways are planning to expand their telemedicine network to 23 more places across the country.

"Currently, telemedicine facilities are available in nine places including Ratnagarir, Reasi, Valsad. The facility is going to be soon available in 23 more places in Maharashtra, Goa, Jharkhand, UP, Bihar, Orissa and Jammu and Kashmir," said a senior railway official.

Telemedicine is the use of electronic communication and information technologies to provide health care when distance separates medical specialists from the patient. It also includes educational use of these technologies such as distance learning of health subjects.

Though rail connectivity has been established in far-flung and remote areas, proper medical facilities have not reached these areas yet. "We are trying to establish telemedicine facilities where medical facilities are not upto the optimal level. There are no equitable health care services with availability, accessibility, affordability posing major concerns," said the official.

National

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