Telemedicine initiative 'eSanjeevani' completes 6 lakh teleconsultations

eSanjeevani, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's telemedicine initiative has completed six lakh teleconsultations.

eSanjeev, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's telemedicine initiative has completed six lakh teleconsultations.

"eSanjeev, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's telemedicine initiative has completed 6 lakh teleconsultations. It took only 15 days to complete the last one lakh consultations. In what can be seen as a big push for the 'Digital India' initiative of the Prime Minister, the eSanjeev digital platform has proved its usefulness and easy access for the caregivers and the medical community, and those seeking healthcare services in the times of COVID," said a press statement from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday.

It said, states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Gujarat run eSanjeev OPD for 12 hours a day and 7 days a week. It is a testimony to the fact that eSanjeev is gradually gaining traction with patients and doctors.

eSanjeev is accessible to the population in 27 States/UTs across India. The digital platform provides eHealth services through more than 6000 doctors who man 217 online OPDs in patient to doctor telemedicine model i.e. eSanjeevOPD.

The press statement further read, "States are also extending the reach of specialized health services to the people in smaller towns and rural areas through eSanjeev (AB-HWC) that is operational at around 4000 Health & Wellness Centres linked with over 175 hubs (set up at District Hospitals and Medical colleges). Over 20,000 clinicians and health workers have been on eSanjeev's two variants. Currently, eSanjeev is recording up to over 8500 consultations per day."

A customized eSanjeev OPD was rolled out by the Union Health Ministry on 13th of April 2020 during the first lockdown when the OPDs across the country were shut down whereas eSanjeev (AB-HWC) was launched by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in November 2019. It will be implemented at 1,55,000 Health and Wellness Centres under Govt. of India's Ayushman Bharat Scheme in 'Hub & Spoke' model by December 2022.

eSanjeev AB-HWC is functional at around 4,000 Health and Wellness Centerspresently and on boarding of an equal number of HWCs is underway, as per the press statement.

According to the press statement, the top ten States which have registered the highest consultations through eSanjeev and eSanjeev OPD platforms are Tamil Nadu (203286), Uttar Pradesh (168553), Kerala (48081), Himachal Pradesh (41607), Andhra Pradesh (31749), Madhya Pradesh (21580), Uttarakhand (21451), Gujarat (16346), Karnataka (13703), and Maharashtra (8747).

Health Ministry is complementing efforts of State Governments by establishing a robust digital health ecosystem and resources (human and infrastructural) to boost the adoption of eSanjeev. The Ministry has roped in Mohali branch of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) for providing end-to-end technical services like development, implementation, operations, and technical support including training of health personnel.

Considering the usefulness and ease of use of eSanjeev for extending the reach of health services, States are actively considering using eSanjeevOPD for inmates of old-age homes and prisons, the press statement added.

( With inputs from ANI )