Bangalore-based George Foundation, a registered charitable trust, is co-ordinating with the John Hopkins University, USA to conduct a functionality study on Early Detection and Prevention System (EDPS), a first of its kind in the country. EDPS study model, intended to introduce in primary health centres (PHCs) in the country, is to be submitted to the World Bank so that a formal evaluation of the software is made before the health departments in the country approach for its installation. Currently the study is on at a PHC in Kengeri in Karnataka.

EDPS has completed its functionality studies at Bagalur PHC, Hosur taluk and Salem district in Tamil Nadu which led the state government to approach the World Bank for assistance to introduce it all over the state. The World Bank, in turn, suggested that a formal evaluation be made of the system in other centres in India. Johns Hopkins accepted to conduct the study for which it received a funding from Rockefeller Foundation, Maya Mascarenhas, director, health projects George Foundation told Pharmabiz.com.

The study scheduled between November 2002 to June 2003 is titled 'Transforming Technologies in Healthcare in Low Income Countries for Evaluation of the Early Detection and Prevention System in India.' The principal investigator for the study is Dr. David Peters.

After the study, a presentation of the findings will be made to all state governments, central government, World Bank, World Health Organisation (WHO) and other funding agencies.

George Foundation has been responsible for the development of the software (mainly created in the US) and its execution in India. It took around four years to develop and the US-based eMedex Online LLC will oversee its technical maintenance.

The cost of implementing the EDPS at a PHC where 10,000 patients access annually is around Rs. 40 per patient for a year. Costs will come down for larger populations, informed Dr. Mascarenhas.

The software provides immediate attention to the patients and diagnoses 300 common diseases seen in India like general malnutrition, blood related disorders, fever with rash/lump, skin/ulcer conditions, respiratory tract infection, tuberculosis, diarrhoea, cardiac, nephrology, neurology and trauma condition. EDPS has three components: diagnostics, data management information system and disease surveillance tool. Each PHC requires a computer, printer and UPS.

The user-friendly software can be operated by non-medical or para medical personnel and delivers quality health care in remote areas in the presence or absence of a doctor. The patient visits the PHC to narrate the symptoms of the illness. The computer registers the patient details and provides the medication. Doctors can use it as screening tool to generate reports. EDPS uses Windows 98 and above, IE and the database is MS Access. It is being upgraded to SQL for large data management.