JOIN USThe Rajasthan government on Monday launched a toll-free helpline to provide 24-hour medical counseling and health-related information.
“Rajasthan is the third state in the country to have the 104 medical helpline service,” said state health minister Duru Miyan. The service was started in November last year on a trial basis and at least 16,000 people have benefited from it, said Miyan.
It comes under the National Rural Health Mission and is a joint project with Hyderabad-based Health Management and Research Institute. The helpline is run by health counsellors, para-medics and doctors, who respond to calls both in either Hindi or English.
Callers get medical advice on a wide range of health issues, including HIV, family planning and cancer, apart from information about hospitals and medical colleges.
Callers can also get information about various health schemes run by the centre and the state government, apart from registering complaints, said principal secretary (health) B N Sharma. Union minister of state for home Jitendra Singh was also present.