APOLLO HOSPITAL LAUNCHES TELEMEDICINE SERVICES AT ELURU GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL

A project in association with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Free Teleconsultation services with Superspecialists of Apollo Group. 32nd Telemedicine Medicine project of Apollo Hospitals Group in India and the 5th in Andhra Pradesh. · Group plans to launch four more Telemedicine centers in A.P. at Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Kurnool and Nizamabad.

Hyderabad, April 27th, 2003: Apollo Hospitals Group has today announced the launch of its latest Apollo Telemedicine Center at Government General Hospital, Eluru. This Project is a part of the endeavour of the Government of Andhra Pradesh to bridge the deficiencies and reach quality medical services to the masses in the state through Public-Private participation. The Eluru Telemedicine Center is Apollos second such project set up in a Government Hospital in the state as part of this initiative. The first Telemedicine project at Karimnagar was inaugurated in August, 2002 by Honble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Sri Chandrababu Naidu.

Sri K. Vidhyadhar Rao, Honble Minister for Industries, Government of Andhra Pradesh, launching the Telemedicine Center at Eluru, today, from Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, related his personal experience when he suffered with a cardiac arrest at Eluru recently and a Cardiologist had to be rushed from Hyderabad to treat him at Eluru, he felt a Telemedicine facility at Eluru would have come to his rescue in that instance.

Mr. Rao wanted improvement in the communication for transfer of images with higher resolution to aid the Doctors in precise diagnosis and felt the need for exploring usage of satellite communication which could drastically improve the image resolution.

He said, he is happy that through private-public participation and involvement of Superspecialty hospitals like Apollo Hospitals, world-class healthcare can be reached to various corner of the State, which would make a major difference in Andhra Pradesh.

Mr. Anji Reddy, Commissioner, APVVP and DGM & HS, who was at the Eluru Telemedicine Center at Government General Hospital, Eluru, opined that telemedicine has been tremendously useful in the State. He said, the Karimnagar Telemedicine Center being managed by Apollo Hospitals at the Karimnagar District Headquarter Hospital has done over 300 CT Scans at a very low cost of Rs, 300/- only, which is highly beneficial to the people who cant afford high quality care because of the cost. He said the Government is now looking to take Telemedicine beyond the district headquarter hospitals into the rural areas in remote corners of the State.

Ms. Sangita Reddy, Director -- Operations & Executive Director, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., said the Telemedicine center at Government General hospital, Eluru will provide access to specialists and super-specialists in Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, these teleconsultation services would be free of cost.

She said, C.T. Scan and Colour Doppler would be set up at the center within a couple of weeks and these diagnostic facilities will be offered at highly subsidized prices (Eg : Rs. 300 for a C.T. Scan) for citizens below the poverty line.

The Telemedicine Center will conduct regular continuing Medical Education (CME) programmes for doctors and health awareness programmes for the common man, added Ms. Reddy.

BRIDGING THE GAP
This is the 32nd Telemedicine Center of the Apollo Hospitals Group in India and is the 5th in Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Aragonda, Nellore and Eluru are now linked through telemedicine and within the next 6 months another 4 centers including Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Kurnool and Nizamabad would be hooked on to the Apollo Telemedicine Network" says, Ms Sangita Reddy, Director -- Operations & Executive Director, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.

APOLLO HOSPITALS -- PIONEERS IN TELEMEDICINE
In India, 80% of the population, which is approximately 11% of the world population, lives in the rural areas. The rural population is devoid of quality health care as 80% of the medical community lives in the cities. In this extraordinary situation only a modern innovation like Tele-medicine can bridge the geographical distances and take health care from the people who have it -- to those who dont. Tele-Medicine has been instrumental in cutting costs and providing timely advice even to patients at secluded zones" adds Ms. Reddy.

ARAGONDA -- THE FIRST LINK
Apollo hospitals Group is the pioneer in Telemedicine in India. The Group launched the first ever telemedicine project in India at Aragonda Village in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh on 24th March, 2000.

Former President of USA, Mr. Bill Clinton impressed by Apollo Telemedicine Services commended Apollo Hospitals by saying: I think it is a very wonderful contribution to the healthcare of the people who live in rural villages and I hope that people all over the world will follow your lead, because if they do then the benefits of the Hi-tech medicine can go to everyone and not just people who live in big cities".

Today the Group has an extensive network linking Chennai, Hyderabad, and New Delhi with remote areas of the country like Kohima, Guwahati, Aragonada, Sriharikota and the metro city Calcutta. Apollo Telemedicine Center at Eluru is another milestone in Apollos march.

For further information, please contact : Sreenivasulu, Tel : 040-23306825 / 8614.