HMRI takes medicare to doorstep of people
HYDERABAD: Health Management Research Institute (HMRI) is embarking on an ambitious plan to make medical services available to the people living in remote areas in the State at their doorstep.
“Geographical location will no longer be an obstacle. HMRI services will change the very definition of people’s health,” said HMRI CEO U Balaji.
Speaking to TNIE, Balaji said HMRI, also known as 104 Service, has been offering more than one service to the people. It has plans to establish a network of tele-medicine services. Launch of ‘Dox in Box’, a briefcase size medical kit which a paramedic can carry to remote areas, conduct the tests and transmit the data through satellite to the medical specialist, is also on the anvil.
As of now, 475 mobile vans have been deployed in 22 districts across the State. Each 104 van is equipped with a mini lab, a team of auxilary nurses, paramedic, pharmacist and adequate stock of medicines.
During visits to villages, the HMRI team conducts basic tests and provides medicines to the needy patients. The entire data of the patient would be recorded and sent to the headquarters on a daily basis. “The vans visit the places on fixed dates every month,” Balaji said.
HMRI advisor AP Ranga Rao said besides the van services, HMRI also operates a non-stop call centre to offer instant advice to patients. On an average, the call centre receives 50,000 calls a day. Under the service, besides giving immediate medical advice to a person in need, basic information on diseases, epidemics and availability of specialists nearest to the caller’s area was being given.
According to Balaji, HMRI has also been asked by the State Government to train RMPs and PMPs. “We will soon turn them into good paramedics,” he said.