08 August 2007
MUSCAT -- A telemedicine service linking Apollo Medical Centre (AMC), Muscat with the Apollo Group of Hospitals in India was launched at an impressive function on Monday bringing top quality healthcare to the doorstep of the Omani people.
Dr Ahmed bin Abdul Qadir Ghassani, undersecretary of health affairs at the Ministry of Health, inaugurated the telemedicine facility in the presence of Anil Wadhwa, ambassador of India, in the presence of a large number of dignitaries at Grand Hyatt Hotel.
The inaugural speech was given by Dr Prathap C. Reddy, chairman of Apollo Group of Hospitals, which was telecast live from New Delhi in India. Dr Reddy said that the launch of the telemedicine facility in Muscat marks a milestone between the two countries and will help the medical fraternity of Oman to bring quality healthcare to Omanis.
Dr K. Hari Prasad, CEO of Apollo Health City, Hyderabad, said that the Muscat Apollo Telemedicine Centre is the 145th telemedicine location for the Apollo Hospitals and carries with it a strength of 25 years of top class medical care from southeast Asia.
While pointing out that Apollo Group of Hospitals is the largest private healthcare provider group in Asia, Dr Hari Prasad believed that no other group in the world could match the sheer number of telemedicine facilities operated by Apollo spread all over Africa and Asia.
Apollo Telemedicine Network provides ready access to specialists and super-specialists in India for consultation and for second opinion services.
Apart from video consultation the specialists in India can review the investigations of patients in Oman (including laboratory tests, X-Ray, Sonogram, CT Scan, MRI, etc) and give a comprehensive opinion to the patients.
This modality can also be used for taking second opinion from experienced Apollo doctors in complex clinical situations. Apart from the ready access which is extremely critical in clinical situations, it is convenient, avoids travel and extremely cost-effective, said Dr Hari Prasad.
Teleconsultation takes place in simple steps. It begins with the patient contacting Apollo Medical Centre Muscat for consultation. The resident doctor fixes up an appointment with the specialist in India. The case-sheet and relevant investigations of the patient are electronically sent to the doctor in India.
The doctor goes through the case sheet and fixes up a time for teleconsultation. During the teleconsultation the doctor in India discusses the condition in details with the patient (and the doctor in Oman where required/possible) and advices the best possible treatment protocol.
Apollo Telemedicine Network, inaugurated by the then president of United States of America, Bill Clinton in the year 2000 at Hyderabad is the largest telemedicine network in the region. Linked with over 100 destinations in India and abroad, Apollo Telemedicine has demonstrated the benefits of using technology for the benefit of humanity.
Apart from teleconsultation, Apollo Medical Centre also offers telepathology and teleradiology wherein patients get the convenience of seeking the opinion of expert radiologists and pathologists in Apollo Group of Hospitals.
The telemedicine facility will also be extended for the benefit of doctors too. This modality will also be used for conducting Continuing Medical Education Programmes for the medical fraternity in Oman. Live procedures will also be telecast at regular intervals from Apollo Group of Hospitals to Oman for the benefit of the doctors and medical personnel in Oman. Patients requiring teleconsultation may contact Apollo Medical Centre, Al Hamriya, Muscat or call 24787766 or e-mail telemedicine@apollomuscat.com.
MUSCAT -- A telemedicine service linking Apollo Medical Centre (AMC), Muscat with the Apollo Group of Hospitals in India was launched at an impressive function on Monday bringing top quality healthcare to the doorstep of the Omani people.
Dr Ahmed bin Abdul Qadir Ghassani, undersecretary of health affairs at the Ministry of Health, inaugurated the telemedicine facility in the presence of Anil Wadhwa, ambassador of India, in the presence of a large number of dignitaries at Grand Hyatt Hotel.
The inaugural speech was given by Dr Prathap C. Reddy, chairman of Apollo Group of Hospitals, which was telecast live from New Delhi in India. Dr Reddy said that the launch of the telemedicine facility in Muscat marks a milestone between the two countries and will help the medical fraternity of Oman to bring quality healthcare to Omanis.
Dr K. Hari Prasad, CEO of Apollo Health City, Hyderabad, said that the Muscat Apollo Telemedicine Centre is the 145th telemedicine location for the Apollo Hospitals and carries with it a strength of 25 years of top class medical care from southeast Asia.
While pointing out that Apollo Group of Hospitals is the largest private healthcare provider group in Asia, Dr Hari Prasad believed that no other group in the world could match the sheer number of telemedicine facilities operated by Apollo spread all over Africa and Asia.
Apollo Telemedicine Network provides ready access to specialists and super-specialists in India for consultation and for second opinion services.
Apart from video consultation the specialists in India can review the investigations of patients in Oman (including laboratory tests, X-Ray, Sonogram, CT Scan, MRI, etc) and give a comprehensive opinion to the patients.
This modality can also be used for taking second opinion from experienced Apollo doctors in complex clinical situations. Apart from the ready access which is extremely critical in clinical situations, it is convenient, avoids travel and extremely cost-effective, said Dr Hari Prasad.
Teleconsultation takes place in simple steps. It begins with the patient contacting Apollo Medical Centre Muscat for consultation. The resident doctor fixes up an appointment with the specialist in India. The case-sheet and relevant investigations of the patient are electronically sent to the doctor in India.
The doctor goes through the case sheet and fixes up a time for teleconsultation. During the teleconsultation the doctor in India discusses the condition in details with the patient (and the doctor in Oman where required/possible) and advices the best possible treatment protocol.
Apollo Telemedicine Network, inaugurated by the then president of United States of America, Bill Clinton in the year 2000 at Hyderabad is the largest telemedicine network in the region. Linked with over 100 destinations in India and abroad, Apollo Telemedicine has demonstrated the benefits of using technology for the benefit of humanity.
Apart from teleconsultation, Apollo Medical Centre also offers telepathology and teleradiology wherein patients get the convenience of seeking the opinion of expert radiologists and pathologists in Apollo Group of Hospitals.
The telemedicine facility will also be extended for the benefit of doctors too. This modality will also be used for conducting Continuing Medical Education Programmes for the medical fraternity in Oman. Live procedures will also be telecast at regular intervals from Apollo Group of Hospitals to Oman for the benefit of the doctors and medical personnel in Oman. Patients requiring teleconsultation may contact Apollo Medical Centre, Al Hamriya, Muscat or call 24787766 or e-mail telemedicine@apollomuscat.com.
© Times of Oman 2007
