Bhubaneswar: Given the risk of non-covid patients in accessing medical facilities in hospitals amid a surge in the Coronavirus case, the Odisha government has enabled activation of telemedicine services for them.
The state government on Thursday issued orders requesting the telemedicine platform to provide distance medical assistance for those in need.
“The Covid-19 situation has now created a major challenge for the accessibility of patients to hospitals for general health care.
Taking into account the situation, it has been decided to use the telemedicine center effectively and proactively established in medical and other hospitals,” notice said.
Telemedicine services will be available at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Religion, Vimsar, Burla, Acharya Harihar Postgraduate Institute of Cancer and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Postgraduate Institute of PaediaTrics in Cuttack all the time and staff settings are made accordingly, he said .
The service will also be available in four new medical colleges and hospitals in Ballasore, Bararding, Bolangeir and Coraput, along with Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar and Public Rourkela Hospital (RGH) from 8am to 5pm.
In PHCs, telemedicine services will be available according to the OPD time from 8am to 12pm, and 4pm to 6 in the afternoon, he said.
In other directives, the Ministry of Health asks hospital authorities to ensure social distance, infection prevention among health care personnel, avoiding non-essential acceptance, and only emergency operations with universal prevention measures.
In the Inpatient Department (IPD), only one officer was permitted for serious patients and no officers for outpatients.
In the Outpatient Department (OPD), the medical officer should not suggest a patient return visit if it is not needed, he said.
Media should not enter to enter OPD or IPD, and dedication fever clinics, isolation facilities and testing must be established, orders issued by the Directorate of Health Services to supervisors of all medical and hospital colleges, Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar, RGH and Head of District Medical Officers and public health workers said.