Telemedicine project to come up soon: TN CM

Chennai, Nov 3 (UNI) Announcing his Government's fullest commitment to take the benefits of telemedicine to the rural and urban poor in the State, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today announced that a telemedicine project would be launched soon, linking a Government hospital in the city with six district headquarter hospitals.

Addressing the 12th international conference and third national conference on telemedicine and E-health here, Mr Karunadhi said the project would be launched at the Government Royapettah Hospital linking the district headquarter hospitals in Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Krishnagiri, Udhagamandalam and Rameswaram.

He stated that his government was keen to encourage public private partnerships in the field of tele-health.

''In 1999, the Government sanctioned Rs 87 lakh for launching a pilot project. A state-of-the-art telemedicine facility is now available at the Government General Hospital here and it is being upgraded further,'' he added.

Pointing out the various initiatives taken by the State, The Chief Minister said an MoU was signed between the Government and Intel Technology India for implementing the pilot project on tele- health.

It was currently being implemented in Tindivanam Taluk Hospital and Mailam Block Primary Health Centre at Villupuram. ''Through this project the Taluk Hospital, Tindivanam, and a few Primary Health Centres in Villupuram are linked to the major centres of excellence in health care,'' he added.

UNI