Now, it’s the turn of PHCs to go smart

Bengaluru: The State Department of Health and Family Welfare has signed an MoU with Biocon Foundation to launch ‘smart clinics’ in 15 Primary Health Centres in six districts across Karnataka. The first such functioning clinic was inuagurated at the Primary Health Centre on Kengeri Road, Mallathahalli on Tuesday.

Under the smart clinic system, when a patient enters the PHC for the first time, his vital statistics including height weight and blood pressure are recorded and stored digitally, said Prabhjot Singh, VP (Engineering and Operations) of PacketBio Pvt Ltd, which has tied up with Biocon Foundation to provide the technology. "The information is digitally available to the doctor and the lab technician and pharmacist," said Mr. Singh. A bio chemistry analyser and cell counter have been installed in the premises which can conduct 25 laboratory tests.

Health Minister Ramesh Kumar said the smart clinic was a step towards making healthcare accessible to all. "The goal is that there should be an ambulance within a radius of 10 km throughout the State,” he said. He deflected a question on how effective would introducing technology in PHCs be if the doctors were available for only a few hours a day. "We are thinking of putting them in chains,” he joked. "Those who become doctors should have a service mindset and fulfill their roles with utmost sincerity," he said.

Biocon Foundation plans to set up smart clinics in two PHCs each in Tumakuru, Davangere, Bagalkot, Dakshina Kannad, Gadag, Shivamogga, Chickballapur and one in Bengaluru. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairperson, Biocon said, "We want to strengthen the public healthcare system by providing solutions which use technology effectively."

Security in hospitals

Referring to the case where an infant was stolen from Jayanagar General Hospital, the Health Minister said that security guards would be posted in all mother and child wards and steps taken to ensure that no infant can be carried out of a hospital without the mother's consent. “Every person carrying an infant will be asked to produce identification at the gate,” said Mr. Kumar. He did not give a date for when this would be implemented.