Govt Plans 24x7 Remote Access For Covid Patients

New Delhi: Preparing for a possible next Covid-19 wave, Delhi government is going to create a privately run 24x7 health system that will allow suspected and confirmed coronavirus patients to hold tele- and video consultations with doctors and also access ambulances, oxygen, hospital admission, medicines and other services. This system can be accessed through a helpline number and will be integrated with government platforms, including those at the district level.

- Alok KN Mishra

The new system will have modules for triaging patients into pre-defined categories, identifying patients suitable for home isolation or for transfer to Covid care centres, health centres or to hospitals. Triaging is considered key in checking mortality because it provides patients immediate and required level of care.

A government official admitted that the proposal was at the initial stage, and will take a final shape after consultations with the private service providers with expertise and knowledge of the field.

Delhi government’s department of health and family welfare has invited firms with experience and capacity in providing tele-consultation services using digital technologies for Covid management to submit an expression of interest. A meeting is scheduled for June 10 to discuss the prospects and further steps, according to Sandeep Mishra, special secretary, health and family welfare.

“The expression of interest is a means to identifying available and easily customisable solutions and to get inputs from private partners to firm up the design and scope of outsourcing of services,” said Mishra.