The Y.S.R. Telemedicine services started on the 18th of April, in Srikakulam district.
The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) due to the Nationwide lockdown, announced the YSR Telemedicine Programme for the people of Andhra Pradesh (A.P.)
Professional doctors of noted hospitals would be servicing online patients with general medical issues as well as those affected by COVID-19. The service kickstarted in 12 districts of Andhra Pradesh on the 13th of April, but due to facility arrangements and hospital allocation the services started late in Srikakulam. In Srikakulam, telemedicine service started from the evening of the 17th of April.
The decision to start the service was taken in the wake of the lockdown imposed to fight the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 infection in India. The Nationwide lockdown which was initially scheduled to end on the 15th of April, would now end on the 3rd of May.
Considering the medical needs of the citizens and rapid tracing of people with COVID-19 symptoms, the YSRCP Government launched the telemedicine programme.
The Y.S.R. Telemedicine programme would help the people suffering from medical issues without violating the guidelines of the lockdown.
Under this service, citizens of A.P., who need medical attention, could call on the given toll free number (14410.) After the call, a person would collect the details of the patient, soon after a doctor would respond and attend the patient through online means, provide the necessary guidelines and medicines would also be delivered at the residence of the patient.
The medicines would be delivered by accredited social health activist(ASHA) workers to the patients across the State. Instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in 2005, ASHA is a community of health workers for rural India, under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) Programme. During the pandemic illness situation, ASHA health workers are playing a vital role in detecting suspects of Coronavirus, collecting samples and tackling the patients across India.
The government officials and medical staff in Srikakulam completed the pre-service work on the 16th of April, following which the services began.
Seven hospitals responsible for this service are theKakatiya Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS,) Great Eastern Medical Sciences (GEMS,) Golivi Hospital, Sindhura Hospital, Amrutha Hospital, Baggu Sarojinidevi Hospital and Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao (GMR) Hospital.
