Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Sep 19: Eastern Railway (ER) has expanded telemedicine facilities at its health units to provide easier access to specialist healthcare for serving and retired employees and their dependents.
The latest telemedicine unit was inaugurated on Thursday at the Sonarpur Health Unit in South 24-Parganas, connecting patients with specialist doctors at the premier B R Singh Hospital in Sealdah.
The facility was inaugurated in the presence of Nataraj Basappa, principal chief medical director, Eastern Railway; Rajeev Saxena, divisional railway manager, Sealdah; Debasis Guha, medical director; and Kalpana Mandal, chief medical superintendent, B R Singh Hospital.
With the latest addition, telemedicine services have also been extended to the Naihati and Gholsapur Health Units. Similar facilities are already available at Ranaghat, Barasat and Berhampore.
"With this addition, telemedicine services have now been extended to the Naihati and Gholsapur Health Units, in addition to the facilities already available at Ranaghat, Barasat and Berhampore. This expansion will help connect patients at health units in different parts of the division with medical specialists at B R Singh Hospital," an official said.
The facility has been introduced particularly for patients who may find it difficult or inconvenient to travel to B R Singh Hospital in Sealdah for specialised treatment.
Patients visiting the Sonarpur Health Unit can interact directly with specialists at B R Singh Hospital through teleconsultation, discuss their health concerns and receive expert medical advice without travelling to Sealdah.
Officials said the initiative is aimed at making specialist healthcare more convenient, accessible and patient-friendly.
The telemedicine facility is also expected to reduce footfall at the outpatient department of B R Singh Hospital and ease administrative pressure. Officials have not ruled out the possibility of conducting minor procedures that do not require hospitalisation at health units through teleconferencing in the future.
A multi-specialty health check-up camp was also organised at Sonarpur Health Unit to mark the occasion. Employees and beneficiaries received consultations from specialists in departments including ophthalmology, dentistry and gynaecology.
The beneficiaries also underwent comprehensive medical screening.
"The expansion of telemedicine services reflects Sealdah Division's continued efforts to bring quality healthcare closer to its employees and beneficiaries and to make medical consultation easier and more accessible," Saxena said.