It signs MoU with ICT Ministry to support better healthcare to rural people
Grameenphone on Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, the strategic partner in developing the policy framework and standardizing the telemedicine system in Bangladesh.
Telemedicine Working Group of Bangladesh (TWGBD) is the technological partner and Aysha Memorial Specialized Hospital `Dusthya Sasthya Kendro’ and Concern Worldwide are the implementing partners of the project.
To support the project, an innovative device – DICOT (Digital Imaging & Communication on Telemedicine) – has been developed, which is supported by TIMES (Telemedicine Information Management & Education System) software to provide quality healthcare for the vulnerable and underserved community of Bangladesh.
After signing of the MoU, the ongoing project will strengthen the newly installed Union Information Service Centres (UISC), GP said in a press release.
Some 15 UISCs would be converted to telemedicine centers and the entrepreneurs will be trained on the system to assist the Consultants as a Telemedicine Assistants.
Smooth video conference between the consultants and patients would also be ensured with at least 1mbps bandwidth.
Besides, 20 rural sites are being added to the project along with 20 Service Delivery Points on smartphones/tablets in hard-to-reach community in partnership with Concern Worldwide and Smiling Sun Clinics of NHSDP.
Earlier, Grameenphone launched telemedicine project in mid-February of 2012 in three rural communities as a pilot project.
Around 2,000 patients took consultations for skin disease from these three centers till date.
Grameenphone CEO Vivek Sood said, “Grameenphone is happy to expand the project to more areas. We believe it will be really helpful for the rural people to consult with specialists on certain disease.”
