Bhubaneswar: In view of rising COVID-19 cases and restrictions imposed by the Odisha government, the state Directorate of Health Services on Thursday directed hospitals to set up 24X7 telemedicine services to reduce patients visiting OPDs with minor ailments.
In an order, it directed all medical colleges & hospitals, district HQ hospitals, Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar and RGH Rourkela to set up 24X7 telemedicine services.
Telemedicine services in the three old Medical College & Hospital (SCB Cuttack; MKCG Berhampur and VIMSAR Burla), Acharya Harihar Post-Graduate Institute of Cancer and SVPPGIP, Cuttack, will be available round the clock and staff arrangement will be made accordingly, the order said.
In the four new Medical College & Hospitals (Balasore, Baripada, Bolangir & Koraput), Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar, & RGH Rourkela, the services will be available from 8 am to 5 pm.
For PHC-HWCs and UPHC-HWCs the timings will be as per the OPD timing i.e., 8 am to 12 noon and 4 pm to 6 pm.
The telemedicine facility under DMHP to be continued actively on the specified time that is 8 am to 5 pm.
The ongoing activity under e-Sanjeevani to be ensured as per the timing fixed, it said.