Medical advice just a call away

Getting prescription and medical advice on treatment and diagnosis from medical professionals will just be a call away now.

The State government will set up a 24-hour helpline - 104, to cater to all kinds of health issues.
 
Briefing mediapersons here on Thursday, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar said a call centre called Health Information Helpline (HIHL) will be launched in a month’s time on the lines of 108 ambulance service.

Dr E V Ramana Reddy, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare said “Medical professionals stationed at the centre will attend the calls depending on the severity.

There will also be counsellors who will help callers with depression, chronic diseases etc. The caller can also seek information about hospital, diagnostic labs, blood banks etc,” he added.

Ramana Reddy further said the caller can also inform about outbreak of any disease. Besides any complaints or health grievances related to the department or any officials can also be addressed through the helpline.

Beginning with 100 seaters, the call centre will be working in three shifts round-the-clock. Depending on the call flow, the seaters may be increased to 300.

The helpline will be outsourced with a capital expenditure of Rs 7.5 crore and operational cost of Rs nine crore. Once the government order is issued, the call centre is expected to be launched in two months time, he added.

Scheme extended

Vajpayee Arogyashree scheme will now be extended to Bangalore and Mysore divisions. It will benefit people in Bangalore urban, Bangalore rural, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Kolar, Shimoga, and Tumkur of Bangalore division; Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Kodagu, Chikmagalur and Hassan in Mysore division.