Patna,(BiharTimes): Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday launched tele-medicine service at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) and in 22 districts and 82 primary health centres of Bihar.

Talking to the media the Chief Minister said in the first phase telemedicine facilities have been started in PMCH, Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS),all in Patna, and 22 district hospitals as well as 82 primary health centres. In the next phase, other medical colleges and remaining primary health centres would be provided with tele-medicine facilities.

Apart from providing facilities of medical experts from within the state, services of those outside Bihar would also be taken.

The Chief Minister talked to patients in several district hospitals, including one in Sadar hospital of Biharsharif, the headquarters of his native Nalanda district.

The Chief Minister said information regarding expert doctors whose consultancy services would be hired on a particular day would be displayed in advance.

Thus the patients living in remote areas of the state will soon have direct access to the best of medical facilities available in the country.

The system is supported by the department of Ayush, the Union ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The National Rural Tele Medicine Ayush Network project includes the setting up of tele-medicine delivery systems in 212 Primary Health Centers, 38 District Hospitals and a central unit in Patna.

Keonics, a Karnataka government-owned enterprise, and KTwo Technology Solutions, a healthcare products company is expanding the rural
tele-medicine project.