Tele Healthcare from Socio-Economic View
Tele-healthcare is perceived as an ICT based solution for accessible and affordable healthcare for the poor residents of rural areas. YES, thinking only with respect to the health domain in developing countries makes this definition logical and I had exactly the same view until I along with our team started working on Jaroka Project. As we are in phase of introducing and implementing Tele-healthcare project in rural Mardan, my vision on tele healthcare has broaden . I strongly believe that Tele-healthcare not only benefits the healthcare domain, but in the long run results in socio-economic benefits for the society. Following are some of the socio-economic benefits with respect to our project:
- Achieving Millennium Development Goal:
Pakistan is committed towards achieving MDG ( 4 & 5) focusing towards better healthcare by 2015. Introducing Jaroka like Tele-healthcare models at various facilities will help achieve the target.
Pakistan is committed towards achieving MDG ( 4 & 5) focusing towards better healthcare by 2015. Introducing Jaroka like Tele-healthcare models at various facilities will help achieve the target.
- Employment Opportunities:
Currently two males and one female doctors (processing), one Nurse and one Network administrator from local community are hired to execute the health related needs at UM-Healthcare Trust. Two students are also working as Research Assistants for implementing the technological part of Jaroka. Expansion of the project will demand more staff and medical specialists which in other words mean more jobs and better economical conditions at the area.
The second phase of the project will give trainings and incentives to Lady Health Workers (LHWs) for patient’s data collection. This means more part-time jobs and individual satisfaction.
Currently two males and one female doctors (processing), one Nurse and one Network administrator from local community are hired to execute the health related needs at UM-Healthcare Trust. Two students are also working as Research Assistants for implementing the technological part of Jaroka. Expansion of the project will demand more staff and medical specialists which in other words mean more jobs and better economical conditions at the area.
The second phase of the project will give trainings and incentives to Lady Health Workers (LHWs) for patient’s data collection. This means more part-time jobs and individual satisfaction.
- Health Awareness for All :
Ignorance and unawareness on vital issues including health is common issue in developing countries. Approximately 80% of the all the deaths and 90% of all illnesses in Pakistan result from disease which are preventable. It means that disseminating/discussing the critical health related information can easily help reduce this figure.
In order to facilitate the local community various sessions such as Basic Cardiac Life Saving (BCLS), awareness sessions, medical camps etc are regularly arranged at UM-Trust facility. These sessions are dedicated for local community as well as LHWs. Number of patients visiting the facility during medical camps has dramatically increased (10,000 patients - to date) and it is interesting to learn that 50% of the patients are women.
Disseminating health awareness or disease prevention methodologies also helps in decreasing the frequency of patient visits to government hospitals which results in less burden on them and quality healthcare service.
Ignorance and unawareness on vital issues including health is common issue in developing countries. Approximately 80% of the all the deaths and 90% of all illnesses in Pakistan result from disease which are preventable. It means that disseminating/discussing the critical health related information can easily help reduce this figure.
In order to facilitate the local community various sessions such as Basic Cardiac Life Saving (BCLS), awareness sessions, medical camps etc are regularly arranged at UM-Trust facility. These sessions are dedicated for local community as well as LHWs. Number of patients visiting the facility during medical camps has dramatically increased (10,000 patients - to date) and it is interesting to learn that 50% of the patients are women.
Disseminating health awareness or disease prevention methodologies also helps in decreasing the frequency of patient visits to government hospitals which results in less burden on them and quality healthcare service.
- International and National Collaborations /Foreign Visits :
APPNA (USA side), NUST and UM-Trust (Pak side) are collaborating in making Jaroka a success. All these institutes share their knowledge/results which is critical for further development for Pakistan. For example, Patient data can serve as an input for Data mining and research on disease can be carried out, which is a great contribution toward R & D nationally and internationally. In order to give the doctors and researcher more exposure of their field and opportunity to exchange knowledge, foreign visits of doctors and researcher from both sides are arranged.
APPNA (USA side), NUST and UM-Trust (Pak side) are collaborating in making Jaroka a success. All these institutes share their knowledge/results which is critical for further development for Pakistan. For example, Patient data can serve as an input for Data mining and research on disease can be carried out, which is a great contribution toward R & D nationally and internationally. In order to give the doctors and researcher more exposure of their field and opportunity to exchange knowledge, foreign visits of doctors and researcher from both sides are arranged.
- Affordable and Accessible Healthcare:
UM-Trust charges minimal free (Pak Rupee 30) from its patients who can afford to pay. Doctors at facility are available to cater the health care needs/ guidance for the patients.
UM-Trust charges minimal free (Pak Rupee 30) from its patients who can afford to pay. Doctors at facility are available to cater the health care needs/ guidance for the patients.
- Local Community Involvement
Local community in Mardan UM-Healthcare Trust is extremely cooperative in making the project credible and successful. This is not only making good health accessible to them but also giving them the confidence that have are playing an active part in a good cause.
Local community in Mardan UM-Healthcare Trust is extremely cooperative in making the project credible and successful. This is not only making good health accessible to them but also giving them the confidence that have are playing an active part in a good cause.
- Empowering Women (Lady Health Workers)
Skill enhancement and empowerment of the women is directly proportional to the success of the country. In our project LHWs through regular training session are trained to provide health care at door steps of the patients. This will give more job satisfaction to LHWs and they will be able to contribute towards the betterment of the society.
Skill enhancement and empowerment of the women is directly proportional to the success of the country. In our project LHWs through regular training session are trained to provide health care at door steps of the patients. This will give more job satisfaction to LHWs and they will be able to contribute towards the betterment of the society.
- Replicable Tele-healthcare Model
The best part about Tele-healthcare model is that, once it is successful it can be easily replicated to desired areas without incurring a lot cost.
The best part about Tele-healthcare model is that, once it is successful it can be easily replicated to desired areas without incurring a lot cost.
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