PHCs in state to get 1,000 tabs to manage health care services

The Health and Family Welfare Department has signed a memorandum of understanding with Samsung Research and Development Institute (SRI) that aims to enable efficient management of public healthcare facilities.

As part of the agreement, SRI handed over 1,000 Samsung Tabs. Tab IRIS is approved by UIDAI for Aadhaar and KYC verification, and would enable primary health centres (PHCs) in the state to build their database in a digital format. The tabs have been given to select PHCs in Bengaluru Urban, Kolar, Tumakuru, Bagalkot, Gadag, Yadgir, Raichur, Vijayapura, Koppal and Kalaburagi. From the coming financial year, it will be extended to other PHCs.

The tab will help staff collect and compile data of patients besides connect to virtual clinics to ensure better treatment. All the data will be uploaded to a common server through the tab. This will help give further treatment and also refer cases. Before launching the tab, a two-month-long pilot study was done in four sub-centres of Hassan. Success was attained in capturing and integrating the data to the system. Based on the success, it was extended to other centres, explained Dr Rajkumar, deputy director, maternal health and Asha care.

The heads of the department will be able to track the location of the tabs and check whether the staff have surveyed rural areas to collect data. Each tab will have a common BSNL log in. The users can enter the data in Kannada and English, Rajkumar added.

Health and Family Welfare Minister K R Ramesh Kumar said the facility should be extended to all 2,353 PHCs in the state. “I do not hesitate in saying that the government, at present, is not in a position to afford this technology. CSR initiatives are welcome,” he said.

He added that the government is working to ensure that there is at least one ambulance equipped with all emergency healthcare facilities and a nurse, every 15 km across the state. The government was also ensuring that all PHCs are linked to the telemedicine software. The government has also taken the responsibility to provide state-of-the-art intensive care units with ventilators in all government hospitals in 176 taluks. Kumar added that the government was taking all these measures to ensure that people come to government hospitals.