National Telemedicine Service
The Context
eSanjeevani, the National Telemedicine Service of India, is an innovative digital health solution developed by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to promote equitable healthcare access across the country. eSanjeevani is designed to bridge the digital health divide and offers a scalable and efficient platform for providing safe, contactless, and risk- free health services, particularly to underserved populations in rural and remote areas. The platform operates through a Hub and Spoke model, connecting primary health facilities to higher-level healthcare institutions for real-time consultations with specialists. Additionally, the eSanjeevani OPD service enables individuals to access outpatient care from the comfort of their homes, ensuring continuity of care without the need for physical visits to healthcare facilities. This telemedicine initiative aligns with India's commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by leveraging technology to
overcome barriers related to geography, accessibility, cost, and distance.
Objectives
- To provide equitable healthcare access to all citizens, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
- To offer safe and contactless health services, minimizing the need for physical visits and reducing out-of-pocket expenditure.
- To ensure quick and easy access to medical professionals and specialists through smart phones and remote centres.
- To utilize innovative technology to overcome geographical, accessibility, cost, and distance challenges in healthcare delivery.
- To implement a scalable solution capable of efficiently serving a large number of beneficiaries.
Activities
- Facilitates medical consultations for patients from their homes through the eSanjeevani OPD service.
- Connects Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs) with tertiary healthcare facilities using a Hub and Spoke model for real-time specialist consultations.
- Generates electronic prescriptions following consultations, enhancing efficiency and continuity of care.
- Provides training for medical specialists in telemedicine practices to ensure high-quality service delivery.
- Monitors and evaluates consultation data to continually improve service quality.
- Supports the creation of Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) to enable health data access and portability for patients.
Prerequisites for Implementation in Global South Countries
- Identifying Hub and Spoke Centres
- Upgrading Infrastructure
- Public-Private Partnerships
- Training and Capacity Building
- Centralized Telemedicine Platform
- Monitoring and Evaluation
Case Study
(Source of the Image - w. media)
A patient, with a history of diabetes and high blood pressure, came with complaints of acidity due to ongoing medications; He wanted to consult the doctor online to check whether the prescription needed a review." Rajesh Kaushish, joint director, and national coordinator of e-Sanjeevani national telemedicine services said.(Tnn, 2023)
