The project scope extends from transmission of electronic medical data, radiological and digital images, heart images, heart sounds and ECG to live real-time interactive videoconferencing sessions between the patients at the remote health centers and consultants at the specialist hospitals.
The project is a model public-private partnership between Engro Chemical, the Government of Sindh, Pakistan Telecommunication Co Ltd, Telemedicine Association of Pakistan and Narayanaheart Foundation, Bangalore, India.
The Governor Sindh in his speech praised the of launching of this innovative technology in Pakistan, adding that it would benefit the population of remote areas a lot, which have limited access to medical facilities.
He directed provincial health department to set up telemedicine unit in each district headquarters' hospital of the province.
Ibad, while commending the Engro Chemical for introducing this new technology, said as you have come up with this new innovation, now it is on part of government to pursue it and expand it in far-off areas of the province.
He assured all possible help to the company in its future projects and said that provincial government would be backing the initiatives aimed at providing medical facilities to the people, as it is focusing much on healthcare system.
Ibad said that Sindh has taken the lead as new technology has been launched here first and hoped that it would also be initiated in other provinces also. He called for maximum utilisation of potential of medical professionals, saying that current level of utilisation is below the one which country possesses.
Engro Chemical Pakistan Ltd President, Asad Umar in his address said that concept is based on delivery of health care services by medical professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases where distance between the patient and specialist is a critical factor.
"The company expects the project will provide the poor patients in rural communities quality treatment at their doorsteps, and will reduce the expense and influx of patients at the already overburdened urban health centers, he maintained.
PTCL President Junaid Khan on the occasion said co-operation in the project by the PTCL is due to its social obligations as huge disparity exists between urban and rural areas of country as far as medical facilities are concerned.
Dr Zakiuddin Ahmed, General Secretary Telemedicine Association, said that telemedicine technology is not replacement of conventional health delivery system but to supplement it for the larger benefit of people in far-flung areas of the country.
On the occasion, Dr Devi Shetty from Bangalore, India and Hospital administrators from Shikarpur Hospital delivered their messages through live video-conferencing.
Later, Dr Rasheed Jooma of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center provided first-ever telemedicine consultation to a patient in Civil Hospital, Shikarpur.