To make available quality healthcare facilities in rural and remote areas, the Defence Research and Development Organisation has decided to commercialise its telemedicine technology.
They are already in talks with the Union Ministry of Rural Development on how to implement the new technology for the use of civilians.
Built primarily for use by the armed forces, the Rugged and Portable Telemedicine System was developed by scientists at the Defence Bioengineering & Electromedical Laboratory in Bangalore.
In the next two years, they will link command hospitals with field areas and base hospitals with the super-speciality Army Hospital Research and Referral in New Delhi using the technology, the scientist said.
A demonstration was done in the extreme cold climate of Siachen two months ago. It works even in minus temperatures.
Meeting international standards, such portable system can be set up at any remote place where establishing a permanent facility is neither feasible nor cost-effective.
