Technology takes medicine to villages

NEW DELHI: Escorts Heart Institute and Research Center (EHIRC), an Indian private hospital and Polycom, provider of video, voice, data and web conferencing and collaboration solutions, have announced an initiative to provide advanced healthcare to remote locations in India using Polycom's video conferencing solutions.

Diplomate American board of surgery and EHIRC cardio thoracic surgery and executive director Dr Naresh Trehan and Polycom Inc. Chairman and CEO Robert Hagerty made the announcement. The event titled 'bridging the health divide through technology' also showcased Escorts' doctors providing medical advice to patients in government hospitals in Nathdwara, Kanpur and Amritsar through Polycom's video conferencing solutions.

Dr Trehan said, "Telemedicine is rapidly making strides due to new developments in telecommunications. Developing countries can use the available technology to fundamentally change people's lives with respect to healthcare." According to him, one of the major hurdles in achieving this goal of healthcare for all is the question of how to do it cost-effectively. Hagerty is in India to propagate the potential of telemedicine in the country and increase Polycom's commitment in India.

According to Polycom India country manager Yugal Sharma, the company has provided Escorts with high-end video conferencing solutions, camera, etc. He added that Polycom does not see this as an investment but as a way to pay back the society and it would be putting money in other such projects as and when the need arises.

Polycom CEO is also in India to propagate the potential of telemedicine in the country and increase the company's commitment in India. The company is also looking towards expanding its operations in India and address this fast growing market.

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