The government has decided to launch tele-health services to provide better health facilities to the masses through Information Technology.
"The ministry of Information Technology has handed over the task to the Comsats to introduce the concept of tele-health for the first time in Pakistan in collaboration with Byte-2000, which is a subsidiary of PAKMT, USA", an official in the Information Technology ministry told Business Recorder.
The official said that the basic idea behind this project is to try and connect remote clinics in rural areas of Pakistan with urban areas hospitals and advance medical units in the big cities, using the most modern Information Technology. "This will help people of remote and far-flung areas, where no medical specialists are available or the local community cannot afford to travel to large cities for consultations with qualified specialists", the official added.
The first proposed tele-health clinic distance learning centre will be established in Gujar Khan (a small town 40 kilometres from Islamabad) with the help of Byte-2000. Tele-health centre will also be established in Comsats Secretariat Building, Islamabad.
These two centres will be equipped with the facilities of video conferencing at both ends.
After establishment of this set up, the local community will be able to consult with the panel of renowned specialists present in the Comsats building.
Scanner and video cam will be used for transferring of X-ray images, ultrasound results, medical reports, symptom analysis and live video streaming between two centres.
The medical consultancy will be provided to patients in Gujar Khan through Comsats tele-health clinic in as well as tele-health clinic at its headquarters, Islamabad as pilot project.
He mentioned that after completion of this project, the same facility would be extended to other remote areas of Pakistan.
"In the light of above discussion, it can be safely concluded that Comsats has and is continuing its relentless efforts to promote IT in its member countries.
It is also hoped that in its ongoing efforts to utilise IT in different walks of life, the commission will continue to play a leading role during the course of IT revolution.