GSAT-12 to boost telemedicine services in state

BANGALORE: With ISRO announcing the launch of GSAT12 on July 15, rural patients, who have been deprived of full fledged telemedicine services all these months, have much to look forward to, as the successful launch of this satellite would help them to get doctor's consultancy without traveling to the city. Even the hospitals which were using telemedicine in a limited way have lot of expectations from this launch.
Dr Satish Chandra, Director, NIMHANS said, "Till now we have been providing consultancy for neurosurgery, neurology and psychairty, but after the launch, we are planing to begin telepathlogy and teleradiology services as well using good quality camera and other equipment to transpond the images."Last year, the failure of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLVF06, carrying India's communication satellite GSAT5P had crashed the hope of enhanced delivery of telecommunication services in the district hospitals across the state. The tele-medicine services in various government hospitals was hampered by the failure making it difficult for the patients to avail telemedicine facilities in the remote Areas.