Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication and information technologies in order to provide clinical health care at a distance. It helps eliminate distance barriers and can improve access to medical services that would often not be consistently available in distant rural communities.
The Telemedicine services in A&N Islands are available in two modes :-
1. Connectivity with Mainland Super-Specialty Hospital through National Telemedicine network provided by ISRO.
2. Connectivity between G B Pant Hospital and other Inter Island Health Institutions provided by SOVTECH in tie-up with Hughes (ISRO) .
Connectivity with Mainland Super-Speciality Hospital
This Telemedicine facility enables the Doctors of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to directly interact with the Super Specialists without sending the patient to mainland thereby saving time, energy and money.
The ISRO set up the VSAT based network between Port Blair and Mainland. It also provided connectivity through National Telemedicine Network. Initially the project was established at G.B.Pant Hospital, Port Blair. It was formally inaugurated by former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee through video conference from New Delhi on 3rd July 2002. Subsequently the same project was extended to BJR Hospital, Carnicobar for the citizen of Nicobar Group of Islands. Since inception Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute (SRMC&RI) is providing the Super-Speciality consultation through Tele-Consultation. The G.B.Pant Hospital unit is also undertaking superspecialty consultation from other hospitals such as AIIMS(Delhi), AIMS (Kochi) etc.
Connectivity between G B Pant Hospital and other Inter Island Health Institutions
Physical Isolation leads to non availability of specialist services in the remote islands. The Administration opted for Technology based solution for providing quality health care services to all islanders and started the telemedicine facilities to link between Port Blair and other health institutions located at inter islands. It’s a joint venture on turnkey basis provided by SOVTECH.
After Tsunami disaster the Telemedicine facility was the only means of connectivity between Carnicobar and Port Blair. It served as the most reliable and accessible link throughout the period of providing relief and rehabilitation.
There are altogether 14 telemedicine centre established in the Union Territory :
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South Andaman District |
North & Middle Andaman District |
Nicobar District |
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G.B.Pant Hospital
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DR. R.P.Hospital, Mayabunder
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BJR Hospital, Car Nicobar
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PHC Baratang
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CHC Rangat |
PHC Teressa |
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PHC Havelock |
CHC Diglipur |
PHC Katchal |
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PHC Neil Island |
PHC Billyground
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Sub Centre Chowra
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PHC Hutbay
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PHC Kadamtala
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