Helpline ‘104’ launched for medical consultation

Enarada, Hubli, June 19, 2013:

Photos by Kiran Bakale

Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader launched ‘Arogyavani’, a toll-free, round-the-clock helpline (104) for medical consultation, in the IT Park premises here, on Wednesday.

‘Arogya Vani’ will assist people living in rural areas of the State who face difficulty in accessing a qualified doctor. The helpline will ensure that rural people get basic information on their health conditions and the available medical facilities.

The helpline service will provide basic medical information, advice, counselling to people who call 104 without visiting a doctor, pharmacist or a health centre.

The programme was presided over by former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettter.  Interestingly, the project was set up in March this year when Shetter was the Chief Minister of the state.

The set up in association with the Hyderabad-based Health Management and Research Institute (HMRI) Arogyavani will provide medical advice, counselling, information on medical directory, and also registers complaints. It would also help in developing a health database for the State.

The call centre set up has 100 seats, which will be increased to 300 in the next three years. The call centre has the capacity to receive 10,000 calls per day, and its staff includes health advisors and medical officers. Generic drugs will also be prescribed through SMS and HMRI representatives, Khader said.

Speaking to media in this occasion health minister said that a proposal will be given to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging him to reserve funds for the project.

Up gradation of all district hospitals, providing infrastructure, medical equipments and manpowers to these hospitals will be the priority of the new government he added.

The government will open drug stalls in every district hospital during the first phase. Drugs would be available here at subsidised rates. In the second phase, such stalls would be set up at taluk and hobli levels, Khader explained.