The Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) has launched a scheme for setting up 60,000 telemedicine centres across the country, in partnership with the Apollo Group.

The Common Service Centres (CSCs), run by DeitY, will function as these telemedicine centres and the people manning these centers would be given basic medical training. They will be provided with kits to measure nine vital body parameters including blood sugar, blood pressure, oxygen saturation etc. An electrocardiogram (ECG) check may be added later. However, the patients would be referred to the nearest medical facility for a detailed diagnosis and advanced care. Further, patients can consult with doctors of Apollo Hospitals through video link, and facilitate sale of generic drugs online.

A patient would be required to pay Rs 100 for every such telemedicine consultation, of which Rs 45 will go to the Apollo Group.