This document discusses healthcare challenges in rural India and describes Piramal e-Swasthya's model for addressing these challenges. Key points:
- Rural India faces inadequate healthcare infrastructure, resources, and spending imbalance compared to urban areas.
- Piramal e-Swasthya aims to provide affordable primary healthcare in rural villages using village-based health entrepreneurs and telemedicine.
- Local women are trained as health workers and set up village clinics connected to doctors via mobile phones and a clinical decision support system.
19. eSwasthya Working Model Local literate women (PiramalSwasthyaSevaks) are recruited undergo a rigorous training programme in which they are trained to collect simple diagnostic information, preventive medicine, first-aid and customer service. These women are given a medical kit, marketing material and a mobile phone. They are then assisted in setting up a tele-clinic (Piramal e-Swasthya Centre) at their own homes. Villagers who feel ill come to the Piramal e-SwasthyaCenter or are visited by the PiramalSwasthyaSevak. After talking to and examining the patient, the health care worker communicates this diagnostic data through a cell-phone to a centralized call centre. At the back end, a call centre worker enters the information provided into a simple e-diagnosis system, which generates an automated response with the recommended prescription and treatment. Doctors manning the call centre also validate this. The total treatment costs between Rs.30 - Rs.50 depending on the medical condition. The Piramal e-Swasthya Centre is also a village level pharmacy stocked with medicines necessary to fill the basic prescriptions recommended by the call centre. If the ailment appears serious, the call centre recommends that the patient visit a secondary or tertiary healthcare facility immediately. The healthcare worker also conducts preventive health workshops, which generate awareness about issues such as sanitation, nutrition and first aid.
37. PSS recruits and trains and deploys village based women health entrepreneurs, PiramalSwasthyaSahayikas, who enable healthcare access to rural patients.
39. PSS undergoes a 5 day training programme on how to conduct basic health service, use digital equipment, handle mobile usage, accounts and counsel patients.