ISRO and Society

I have today, something on “Telemedicine’. It's one of the shining contributions of ISRO to the society. Certainly, ISRO is indebted to the society. This is one of the ways in which ISRO pays back.

I am quoting a few points from an article titled “Healthcare for the other India”, appeared in the Business Today magazine ((Aug 10, 2008 issue).

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Telemedicine is the delivery of health services through telecommunication networks.

Six years since ISRO launched a national Telemedicine project to reach quality healthcare to rural India, there are four states that have “wired up” all their district hospitals. So, what has been the impact on the lives of the poor in these states ?

ISRO’s telemedicine project has benefited three lakh people. ISRO’s capability to provide connectivity to far-flung and remote places through satellites has been effectively utilized. ISRO is driving the project by providing software, hardware, communication equipment and satellite bandwidth, all free of cost. As many as 263 district/taluk hospitals across the country are linked to 43 super-speciality hospitals via ISRO’s satellite based network, and the benefit has reached three lakh people.

Kerala, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Karnataka stand out because all their district hospitals are under this network.

Now, patients from Lakshadweep, effortlessly, albeit virtually, walk into Amritha Institute of Medical Sciences at Kochi, and meet up with specialist doctors.

Kerala : first in Telemedicine. Yet, the project is limping or dysfunctional in districts such as Idukki, Wayanad, Aalappuzha, Kasargod, etc. ISRO’s equipments are available in all places, but it is often not put to the best use. *

Andhra Pradesh : Eight years on, after 40,000 consultations, telemedicine in AP is a resounding success.
Chattisgarh : The telecom facilities remain idle because the Naxals threaten doctors and there is no power supply.
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