Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
With Inputs from Media Release

Mangaluru, Jul 18: Mangalore Institute of Oncology (MIO), also known as Mangalore Cancer Hospital, a super specialty cancer hospital started a Telemedicine Centre at Surgeons Hospital, Kundapur. This new endeavour called 'MIO Telemedicine: Bridging the gap for cancer care in rural areas' was inaugurated on June 14 by Dr Bhavani Rao, IMA president, Kundapur.

Daijiworld had an opportunity to interview Dr Suresh Rao and understand about the importance of telemedicine. The Telemedicine Centre inaugurated at Surgeons Hospital is the first for cancer care in the state and through this socially relevant programme, MIO plans to reach out to the rural cancer patients. Here are some of the important aspects that came out of the interview.

1. Can you tell us what the meaning of telemedicine is and how old it is?

Telemedicine is an innovative system of healthcare provision from long distance utilizing the telecommunication and modern information technologies. Though this concept arrived in last century and was based on telephone and radio, due to technical glitches it was not very effective. However today, with the advent of diverse advanced technologies, like video telephone, internet services, mobile technology it has been very effective and also enabled easy information sharing and discussion about critical medical cases among healthcare professionals from multiple locations. Telemedicine is now being used extensively in the US and other developed countries for effective rural service as patients can receive clinical healthcare in rural areas without arduous travel to the tertiary care hospitals in far of cities.

2. What are the benefits of telemedicine?

Telemedicine has eliminated the distance barriers to deliver clinical healthcare for critical patients in emergency situation. It saves lives in the emergency situations, while there is no time to take the patient at a hospital. In many rural communities or remote places consistent healthcare is unavailable. Telemedicine can be applied in such places or situations to provide emergency healthcare. Telemedicine has facilitated patient monitoring through computer or tablet or phone technology that has reduced outpatient visits. Now doctors can verify prescription or supervise drug oversight.

3. What the requirements for a telemedicine system?

For telemedicine there are two important indispensible components:

1. The electronic gadgets (computer video camera and a good internet facility)
2. Experienced medical doctors on either end of the system. In this case an experienced cancer doctor (in city) on one side and another doctor (serving in the rural area) who is with the patients on the other side.

4. Tell us about the importance of 'MIO Telemedicine: Bridging the gap for cancer care in rural areas'?

Cancer is a major disease and from my experience of 30 years have seen that people living in the rural area suffer a lot. This is mainly because the cancer treating hospitals are in cities and away from them during emergency situations. Further the doctors serving people in rural areas are not fully aware of the emergency treatments to be given for a disease like cancer in emergency conditions and this leads to further complications. Through 'MIO Telemedicine: Bridging the gap for cancer care in rural areas' we will inform the patient/family members to go to the local doctor. Then the cancer specialists will have an online video conferencing with the local doctor and will assist the local doctor in taking care of the patient during the critical time period.

5. How will telemedicine function in rural areas and especially Kundapur?

In the telemedicine endeavour the cancer doctors of MIO will be able to help rural patients through online video conferencing with the patient and doctor Dr Vishveswar at Kundapur for immediate life saving treatment when patient is in critical condition. Once the patient stabilizes and or the advanced ambulance is available they will be moved to a tertiary hospital for advanced care.

6. Do you plan some more centers in other rural parts of the country?

Yes, we plan to have some more centers in rural areas where tertiary care is unavailable. The only criteria we are considering is that the rural centre should have a senior doctor with some experience of caring for cancer patients and the hospital should have basic facilities for diagnostic and emergency care.