Telemedicine facilities rolled out amid lockdown

Thiruvananthapuram: City residents confined to their homes owing to triple lockdown can still consult doctors from their homes on laptops, desktops, mobiles or tablets.
Among the systems in place through which people can avail the service of doctors through teleconsultation, one is the e-Sanjeevani Scheme run by the state government. It was launched two weeks ago and has already become the number one government-run telemedicine system in the country, said health minister K K Shailaja on Tuesday.
The initiative is being implemented with the cooperation of medical experts of Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Science (IMHANS). One can log on to the website esanjeevaniopd.in/kerala and can generate an OP (Out Patient) ticket online.
Besides the services of doctors practising general medicine, service of mental health experts has also been made available through the portal.
An online mental health clinic will function from 20am to 12 noon on Tuesday. A mental health clinic for adults will function at the same hours on Wednesdays.
Another platform which helps city residents avail telemedicine services is the Nanma Helpdesk, which is operated under the state police. The help-desk is run by volunteers of the charitable organisation, Nanma Foundation.
Inspector General P Vijayan said the service is exclusively meant for city residents where the triple lockdown is in force. People can avail the service by contacting the helpdesk number 9539258000. One can either call the number or send a Whatsapp message detailing their problems.
“The volunteers at the helpdesk will then help them connect with the required doctors,” the IG said, adding that the police have tied up with doctors who are doing private practice and have volunteered to offer their services.
The police and the Nanma volunteers will also buy medicines for people who are unable to go out, such as senior citizens living alone. All they have to do is to share the prescription details with the helpdesk volunteers.