Telemedicine revolutionises healthcare access: Expert highlights at TSI conference

Bhubaneswar: Dr Ramasamy Kim, president of the Telemedicine Society of India (TSI), emphasised the transformative power of telemedicine in extending healthcare services to previously inaccessible areas. Speaking at the 12th annual conference of the Odisha chapter of TSI, Dr Kim underscored how technological advancements have made geographical barriers irrelevant in healthcare delivery.

Addressing the gathering at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Dr Kim stressed the collaborative potential of engineering and medicine, particularly in leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance medical practices and eliminate errors.

The conference, presided over by Dr Ramnath Mishra, president of the Odisha chapter of TSI, witnessed contributions from esteemed figures including Prof Pradipta Kumar Nanda, vice-chancellor of SOA Deemed to be University, and Dr Biswa Narayan Mohanty, honorary adviser to the Odisha government for the Telemedicine Network Scheme.

Dr Kim highlighted the instrumental role played by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in facilitating India’s telemedicine project, which now serves approximately 2,500 patients daily through telemedicine vision centres. He commended the success of the Odisha Telemedicine Network and urged medical students to leverage technology for societal betterment.

Prof Nanda affirmed SOA Deemed to be University’s commitment to supporting the state government in telemedicine initiatives, citing its pivotal role in saving lives during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr Mishra advocated for the widespread adoption of telemedicine in medical education to address faculty shortages.

The conference, organised by the Odisha chapter of TSI in collaboration with IMS and SUM Hospital, concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr Sabyasachi Pattanayak, secretary of the Odisha chapter of TSI, in the presence of esteemed dignitaries and healthcare professionals.