Steps initiated to establish telemedicine programme in Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu Health Department has initiated efforts to establish a telemedicine programme based on a hub-and-spoke model, with five super speciality hubs being planned.

This was one of the announcements made in the Budget earlier this year by Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson. According to the announcement, to ensure access to specialised medical care for people in remote and rural areas, the government will establish a telemedicine system based on a hub-and-spoke hospital model.

Five hubs staffed by specialist doctors will be linked to 200 spokes at primary health centres and government hospitals through an online network. Over the next five years, this network will be progressively expanded to a total of 1,000 hubs and spokes. The government allocated ₹18.5 crore to establish the telemedicine network.

Last week, the National Health Mission, Tamil Nadu, in a communication to the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) and Research, said that a proposal has been submitted to the government for the establishment of a State Hub-and-Spoke Telemedicine Programme in Tamil Nadu, with five super speciality hubs at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai; Government Omandurar Medical College Hospital, Chennai; Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai Medical College, Madurai; Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital, K.A.P.V. Government Medical College, Tiruchi; and Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.

It said that the space and infrastructure required for each hub was discussed during a meeting, and a type design was prepared for the super speciality hub. It went on to outline the salient features, the need for the identification of space, and the preparation of estimates through the Public Works Department (Buildings).

The DME was requested to instruct the deans of the five medical college hospitals to identify existing built-up space of about 1,700 sq. ft. in the institution for their conversion into the telemedicine hub. Eight consultation pods and two private pods for sensitive consultations have been planned.