In a bid to digitise Uttar Pradesh’s medicinal infrastructure with world-class technology, Lucknow’s Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) has signed a pact with the state-owned PowerGrid for setting up tele-ICUs in UP. These telemedicine Intensive Care Units (tele-ICUs) are 24×7 remote-controlled monitoring systems for ICU patients, which are aided by real-time and two-way audio-visual communication system. They will also be equipped with an alert system, in case of emergencies.
Tele-ICUs: Cheaper yet Better
PowerGrid, under the Ministry of Power, is a Central Transmission Utility (CTU) which operates nearly 90 per cent of inter-state/inter-regional transmission networks in the country. A statement issued by the SGPGIMS in Lucknow read that the medical institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the PowerGrid, in the presence of the Chief Minister. This pact was signed by V.K. Singh, Director (Personnel) on behalf of PowerGrid and SGPGIMS Director Prof. R.K. Dhiman, which authorises the creation of POWERGRID-SGPGIMS Tele-ICUs in Uttar Pradesh, with mutual cooperation of the two signatories.
Bringing the cost factor of normal ICUs to the foreground, the statement highlighted the importance of intensive care units and read that if the ICU aid is delivered to the needy patients at the right time and in the right manner, it can save many lives. However, the statement also brought the high-cost factor of these services to the foreground. In comparison to these, the new tele-ICUs will not only help to enhance the public health services of the state but also will do it a much lesser cost, the statement added.
This report from the hospital did not share any details with respect to the number of tele-ICUs to be set up or their locations.
-With inputs from IANS
