Telemedicine on Wheels

A unique project for Distance Healthcare Advancement (DISHA) has been launched in Madurai District of Tamil Nadu in August 2005. Jointly undertaken by ISRO, Philips India, Apollo Telemedicine Networking Foundation (ATNF) and the Madurai based NGO, namely, Development of Human Action (DHAN), DISHA is a novel telemedicine initiative to provide distance healthcare to the under-served population. It is specifically
aimed at providing healthcare to vulnerable groups at affordable cost.

Under DISHA Project, a tele-clinical van, equipped with diagnostic equipment provided by Philips India travels through Teni District in Tamil Nadu. The van has an ultrasound machine, an X-ray, a defibrillator and an ECG machine along with dedicated doctors and other para-medical staff.

ISRO is providing the connectivity through VSAT and allocating the required bandwidth
free of cost on its INSAT for tele-consultation with Apollo Specialty Centre at Madurai, which will be the referral hospital for DISHA. Apollo has also deputed doctors and paramedical staff in the van and made available specialist doctors and operational staff at its hospital to facilitate multi-specialty consultations for patients visiting
the mobile tele-clinical vans.

DHAN foundation is playing a key role in building trust and credibility for the project by interacting with the local community.

The well equipped tele-clinic van of DISHA

DISHA will travel to identified locations once a week and is expected to cover a population of 7,50,000. This pilot project will be evaluated and the results used to build a business model for healthcare delivery system including the pricing for such facility. Support of NGOs will also be sought to strengthen the interaction between the patients, doctors and the facilities.

Launching DISHA at Madurai, Mr G Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO, said in his address from Bangalore via INSAT “with the objective of taking the benefits of space technology to the rural and remote area population, ISRO undertook the initiative to establish space-based telemedicine network in 2001. ISRO’s Telemedicine network has now expanded to connect 26 specialty hospitals in major cities to 87 hospitals in rural and remote areas including the Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep and
J&K. ISRO has been working with other departments of Government, NGOs and private entrepreneurs in its various space application programmes to ensure that the benefits of high technology reach the underprivileged. DISHA is another example of the unique combination of a Government Organisation (ISRO), an NGO (DHAN) and private enterprises (Apollo and Philips India) joining hands for a common purpose
of serving the society at large in this very important area of healthcare”.
Commenting on the new foray by Philips,

Mr K Ramachandran, CEO, Philips India said “Philips is a Healthcare, Lifestyle and Technology company. Our vision is to be able to improve people’s quality of life through the products we offer and the markets we serve. Our challenge lies in expanding our scope to new markets and new business opportunities with sustainability as the key driver.”

“Today, the population growth is highest in emerging markets, especially in the mid and low ends of the economic pyramid. Technology can help drive sustainable solutions that bridge the divide between the privileged and lesser privileged sections of society and improve the quality of life at all levels. However, new value delivery models need to be created to make this happen and this strategic partnership is a step in that direction”.

“Philips’ approach has been to embark on pilot projects to test new ideas and strategies, in this case remote access healthcare through the launch of DISHA in Teni. This pilot project will allow us to assess the project’s viability and gain consumer insights”.

Dr. T. Varghese George, Director, ATNF said, that Apollo hospital, which is the third largest healthcare provider in the world, is committed to provide specialised healthcare to the rural poor as a part of its corporate social responsibility. “Through telemedicine, we transfer the knowledge and not the patients, who are then treated at their respective villages” he said.