Wednesday, July 6 2005 11:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: In an effort to make the best healthcare facility available to the rural masses, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss yesterday (July 5, 2005)launched 'Telemedicine' connectivity between All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) and a healthcare centre in Faridabad , Haryana.

"With the connectivity, patients at the Comprehensive Rural Health Services Project at Ballabhgarh, can avail the consultation of senior doctors in New Delhi, the facility would help rural population have access to the best of medical practitioner for consultation," said Ramadoss launching the 'state-of-art integrated system' in New Delhi.

"Similar facilities will be replicated in other parts of the country with block level healthcare facilities connected with premier institutes like PGI Chandigarh, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), SGPGI Lucknow and JIPMER to help rural masses get minimum basic medical care", he said.

"These facilities would also ease patient burden on premier institutes the technology would help 73 per cent population that live in rural and inaccessible areas and have access only to 25 per cent of country's healthcare facilities," he added.

Ramadoss said Rs 40 lakh to Rs one crore would be spent to upgrade all block level hospital so that the technology could be used in those centres.

The Minister also inaugurated an 'Automation Facility' at the Institute, which would help track files in the Finance and Vigilance departments.

"Through this facility all employees of All India Institute of Mental Sciences (AIIMS) can have access to the movement of files in the Finance and Vigilance Divisions," said Dr P Venugopal, Director, AIIMS.