Ahmedabad
The 72 existing health centres are going to get a facelift and become 'smart', equipped with internet technology.
Updated : Jan 10, 2019, 06:20 AM IST
As an initiative under the Smart City Project, the civic body plans to come up with smart health care for the citizens. The 72 existing health centres are going to get a facelift and become 'smart', equipped with internet technology.
"At a cost of Rs 23 crore we are going introduce smart urban health centres. To enhance the existing public health system we are introducing several smart features; administration work is set to become completely computerised," said Kuldeep Arya, Joint CEO, Smart City Project and Deputy Municipal Commissioner of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.
"After introducing Hospital Information System (HIS), it will become easy for us to monitor health care. When a patient will come to a centre, his records will be computerised. This would help in early detection of health issues and also provide proper treatment," added Arya.
There will be no queues at health centres once this system is introduced. A computerised token will be given to the patients when they register. "S/he will not need to carry different documents or a file," said Dr Bhavin Solanki, in-charge medical officer of health, AMC.
The official added, in case a patient needs to share reports of a blood test or x-ray, the information will be just a click away. Also, there will be provision for telemedication. "We're mulling over the prospects of introducing telemedication facilities at a few health centres. Telemedication allows a patient to get diagnosed from remote areas through a telecommunication interface," said Dr Solanki.
He said that the system will be based on Internet of Things (IoT) and the health department will be able to track the records of the patients as well as of the staff.
However, members of the Congress party are saying that the civic body announces big project but fails miserably in its execution. "Let the BJP-run civic body claim big things. Half of the centres do not even have specialists and experts. We need to strengthen hospitals and health centres with trained doctors first. In the past also many such announcements were made, but then they were poorly executed. This one would also be a waste of money," said Badruddin Shaikh, former leader of Opposition at AMC.