Bangalore: With medical treatment and counselling going virtual, major hospitals in the city are fast turning to technology to treat patients sitting in any part of the world.

A study by Cable and Wireless Worldwide (a global telecom company) in the UK, India, Singapore, Germany and Spain proves that the trend is catching on in Bangalore as well. The study states that 54 per cent of Indians would prefer medical consultation through video conferencing and telecommunication.

Dr Abhay Singavi, head of Telemedicine at Narayana Hrudayalaya said, "In most cases, patients require consultation and there is no need for physical examination. We can now consult a wide audience through video conferencing and telecommunication and provide medical services."
 
Narayana Hrudayalaya since 2001 has been providing medical services through video conferencing to remote nodes in the country, and several abroad. Dr Nagendra Swami, president of Manipal Health Enterprises said this technology is a boon, especially in cases where the services of a specialist or super-specialist is required.

"We have 15 hospitals in the country and one in Kathmandu, but a specialist or super specialist is not necessarily required at every single place. We simply share expertise via video conferencing," Nagendra said.

Besides medical consultation and treatment, many psychologists and psychiatrists are now opting to counsel patients through video conferencing applications such as Skype.

"Webcam counselling is as good as direct interaction and helps patient and doctor to be in constant touch without having to travel," city-based psychologist Dr Vinaya Prabha V Baligar said.

While the trend is growing in Bangalore, experts say that the 'game-changer' will be medical services through mobile phones."There already exist certain 3G applications and soon we will have a sea change when we can we access medical facilities through mobile phones," said Nagendra.

Tags: cable and wireless worldwide, online counselling and medical treatment, virtual medicine