Nagaland Telemedicine Service launched in Ungma

Our Correspondent
Ungma, Aug. 17: In a bid to provide easy access to affordable healthcare in the rural areas, Nagaland Telemedicine Service (NTS) was officially launched under ‘UPCHAR SEVA, Hq. Delhi’ at Ungma village under Mokokchung District on Fri. Aug 17.

The NTS was formally launched with a dedicatory prayer offered by Rev. Dr. Noklen, the Pastor of Ungma Baptist Church in the presence of Ungma Village Council members and well-wishers.

Temsutula Imsong, recipient of Swarajya Magazine’s Shree Narayana Guru Award for social work (SBM) highlighted in her keynote address that UPCHAR SEVA was by founded by like-minded doctors, NGOs and businessmen to provide telemedicine services in remotes area where access to health care is difficult.

She said that NTS here was started at Ungma as a pilot programme in April 2018 and so far, more than 150 patients have been provided consultation on various health problems through telemedicine services such as telephonic and video-conferencing means and also by ways of sharing patients’ data through online services with specialists from renowned hospitals and research institutes across India.

Imsong also asserted that in the cities just for doctor’s consultation, the registration free costs INR 500 or more, ‘but here the services are provided for free’; therefore, she and urged the villagers to avail the ‘priceless services’ for better health.

Dr Nungtok, another well-wisher, pointed out setting up a telemedicine service is costly; however, it has improved the access to healthcare in the rural areas and has made cost efficient to have consultations with specialists for various health problems.

He further, encouraged NTS to expand its wings to other remote areas which would further enhance better health care for the people in the state.

The Chairman of the Ungma Village Council, Alemtoshi Imsong and Tatar Imlikokba Imsong also spoke at the event. On behalf of the Council, they appreciated the benevolent healthcare service provided by the centre and added that it was ‘just a starter’.

They further encouraged the staff to continue their work with consistency and zeal to provide better healthcare service to the people.

Meanwhile, a power-point was presented by one of the staff and a live Telemedicine Service through video-conference with a patient was also demonstrated by a doctor in NTS.