The government of India along with Apollo Hospitals have launched the government’s latest health and IT initiative called SEHAT (Social Endeavour for Health And Telemedicine). It will now connect 60,000 common service centres across the country to a common network and provide healthcare access to people in any geographical location or connectivity.

Union minister for communications and information technology, law and justice Ravi Shankar Prasad unveiled the venture.

Dr. Prathap C Reddy, chairman, Apollo Hospitals said, “SEHAT will connect across the country on a common network to avail tele-health services. Apollo Hospitals has always been committed to providing the digital dividend to all Indians. Through our PM’s ‘Digital India’ initiative more Indians shall get access to e-services and we are delighted to be a partner with the government in this path breaking endeavour to link SEHAT to 60,000 common service centres.”

“Telemedicine can provide rural population access for basic, specialty and super specialty consultations. Since 80 per cent of conditions do not require a doctor’s physical presence immediately, they can be dealt with through telemedicine. Most lifestyle and communicable diseases fall into this category,” said Sangita Reddy, joint managing director, Apollo Hospitals.

The Apollo Group launched the first telemedicine centre in the country in 2000 at Aragonda which was inaugurated by the former US president Bill Clinton. Through this, the hospital has been able to reach geographically remote and inaccessible regions. The Group operates one of the country’s largest telemedicine networks and has partnered with the ISRO, ministry of health and family welfare, and governments from the Africa, CIS and Pacific Rim nations to provide access to quality medical services.