By: Varun Rattan Singh 

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh will soon be starting the telemedicine project promoted by the Department of Information Technology (DIT) in association with the Health Department. The department is already using services of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to provide telemedicine services through its network between the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) hospital and other hospitals including PGI Chandigarh and some in the remote areas of the state.

Anil Kaushal, Chief General Manager, BSNL (HP circle), said at a press conference that 17 hospitals have already been connected under the plan and telemedicine service could be started anytime. The work to connect three more hospitals of the state with IGMC would also be over shortly. Telemedicine would help people in getting medical advice of specialists at IGMC and PGI in hospitals near them.
The hospitals which are to be connected under the project are:
IGMC
MGMSC Khaneri (Rampur)
C.H.Rohru
R.H.Chamba
C.H.Tissa
C.H.C. Bharmour
Z.H.Mandi
C.H.C Jhanjali
C.H.Karsog
R.H.Kullu
C.H.Banjar
D.H.Rekong Peo
C.H.C. Pooh
C.H.C. Shillai
C.H.C. Sangrah
R.H. Nahan
D.H. Keylong
R.H.Hamirpur
Z.H.Dharamshala

This project is one of the many projects being implemented by the state government to promote e-governance in the state.