Access to even the most basic healthcare services is a challenge for communities living in the underserved areas. Smile Foundation; in partnership with Karma Healthcare and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australian High Commission have initiated a Telemedicine project that will serve the needs of communities in the remotest parts of Bhilwara, Rajasthan.
The project will provide diagnostics and medical consultation services through video conferencing with specialized doctors and equipment available at the telemedicine clinics managed by Karma Healthcare. Telemedicine is an attempt to fill the gap of shortage of qualified doctors in remote areas over digital platform. This will help in accessing affordable healthcare at doorstep. The project will also sensitize the communities for preventive and promotive healthcare through series of outreach activities and health camps by Smile Foundation.
The project is based on the ‘hub-and-spoke’ design that brings together, through a network, hub which offers a full range of services, complemented by secondary establishments or spokes that offer selected services, referring patients needing more intensive services to the hub for higher treatment by dedicated Smile on Wheels provided by Smile Foundation.
The launch the first telemedicine clinic at Koshithal area of Bhilwara District on 19th March 2019 by Mr Manohar Singh Chandawat( Ex Sarpanch), Dr M. L Jain ( Retd. Medical Health Services (RCH/SIFW) and was witnessed by dozens of community members who seemed very eager to avail its services.
A recent study published in the medical journal The Lancet claims that more Indians die due to poor quality of healthcare rather than due to access to healthcare.