Mobiles to drive future medical service: Udairam

Kolkata, Dec 12: There is nothing to worry if you have failed to keep your appointment with the doctor to check your Blood Sugar, cause your cell phone will record and send it directly to the hospital.

''That is the future of medical services and importance of telemedicine,'' said Dr T K Udairam, CEO of Changi General Hospital, Singapore.

Speaking to sources through an e-mail interview, Dr Udairam today said, SingTel has initiated a pilot project in Singapore which offer services like recording blood sugar and pressure and send it to the hospital directly.

''We are in an era of paperless medical service. We aim to provide telemedicine facilities and do not let our patients to travel to the Out patients department. That reduce the pressure on the hospitals and reduce cost of medical services as well,'' he said.

Telemedicine is the future of medical services, especially in countries like India, where number of mobile subscribers are increasing everyday,'' he said.

The Union Government, along with private mobile service providers, can initiate such telemedicine services through which patients would be able to contact doctors, he said.

Telemedicine is an usual medium which can be very effective for rural population of India,'' Udairam said.

UNI