QUETTA: Telemedicine health units have begun operations across Balochistan, connecting basic health facilities in remote areas with specialist doctors through a digital healthcare system to improve access to medical consultations and treatment.
Balochistan Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar shared details of the initiative during an interview with ARY News’ programme Ba Khabar Savera.
Under the programme, basic health units and other medical facilities in all 41 districts of the province have been connected online with specialist doctors, the minister said.
The telemedicine centre can accommodate 100 doctors at a time, with an overall capacity of 300 doctors. It also has 15 Fellowship of the College of Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS) specialists from various medical fields who provide online consultations to patients at primary healthcare facilities in remote areas.
Medical staff check patients’ blood pressure and other vital signs, while ultrasound examinations and other diagnostic tests are arranged when necessary.
Test results and medical information are shared online with doctors at the telemedicine centre, who assess patients’ conditions and recommend appropriate treatment and medication.
Officials said an electronic medical record was being maintained for every patient. Those requiring additional tests or specialised treatment can also be referred to the relevant healthcare facility or hospital.
The provincial government has also introduced an application called Sehat Digest alongside the telemedicine initiative. The app allows residents to report their medical complaints from home and seek advice from doctors.
Kakar said patients could obtain prescribed medicines from participating medical stores by having the barcode on their prescriptions scanned.
The Balochistan government will subsequently reimburse the relevant medical stores for the cost of the medicines under an agreement, he added.
