Kerala, the most literate state in India, may soon surge ahead in the area of health also. A new telemedicine project to be launched in March, hopes to cut down the number of patients visiting the hospital for cancer treatment, by almost 30%.
The project to be launched at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) would connect the surrounding areas of Kerala to medical advice through the net. The RCC registers about 10,000 new cancer patients every year and also has a large number of follow up cases. It has a network of 6 peripheral centres that have their own consultation services.
All the six peripheral centres have been converted into telemedicine centres or teleclinics, connected to the RCC through the internet. The RCC is connected to the internet through a lease line while the peripheral centres have to connect through a dial up modem. The RCC will also provide medical tips to the practising doctors in an instant. This would also help to reduce the load of the hospitals which can then treat patients who require active treatment.
The software called oncoNET Kerala has been developed by the Indian government's electronic R&D laboratory. This software is capable of transmitting data, pictures and sound. This will help patients to not only send in the details of their problem, but also the picture of the affected area. The medical facility at the RCC will thus be able to give more personalised and accurate information.
Patients' records will be maintained in a database at the RCC and each patient will be able to access his or her personal record with a unique password at any given point in time. The interface will also provide cancer information and tips for preventive care to cancer patients. If the endeavour is successful, medical care for Indian patients will never be the same again.
The Lancet Oncology; Vol.2, No. 3