E-Sanjeevani: Pandemic Success with Dr. Sanjay Sood
- India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's e-Sanjeevani initiative has reached a milestone, completing 6 lakh teleconsultations.
- The telemedicine platform, wich recorded 5 lakh consultations as of Oct.
- Available in 27 states and union territories, e-Sanjeevani employs over 6,000 doctors across 217 online OPDs, facilitating patient-to-doctor interactions.
E-Sanjeevani telemedicine achieved a remarkable milestone, reaching 6 lakh consultations, a testament to its vital role during the pandemic and its impact on India’s Digital India initiative. This platform demonstrates expanding access to healthcare. The telemedicine service, with the efforts of over 6,000 doctors through e-health services, is a primary point of healthcare. Dr. Sanjay Sood highlights the platform’s rapid growth and ease of use. News Directory 3 reports on the expansion and the ongoing integration of more health centers. Discover what’s next for this evolving healthcare model.
e-Sanjeevani telemedicine Reaches 6 Lakh Consultations
Updated November 06, 2020
India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s e-Sanjeevani initiative has reached a milestone, completing 6 lakh teleconsultations. This achievement underscores the platform’s utility and accessibility,especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,and aligns with the Digital India initiative.
The telemedicine platform, wich recorded 5 lakh consultations as of Oct. 12, added another 1 lakh in just 15 days. Averaging 8,500 consultations daily, e-Sanjeevani is becoming a significant component of India’s healthcare delivery system.
Available in 27 states and union territories, e-Sanjeevani employs over 6,000 doctors across 217 online OPDs, facilitating patient-to-doctor interactions. States such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Gujarat operate e-Sanjeevani OPDs for 12 hours a day, seven days a week, indicating growing acceptance among patients and doctors.
The platform extends specialized health services to smaller towns and rural areas through the e-Sanjeevani (AB-HWC), connecting approximately 4,000 Health & Wellness Centres with over 175 hubs at district hospitals and medical colleges. More than 20,000 clinicians and health workers are involved across e-Sanjeevani’s two models.
The Union Health Ministry launched a customized e-Sanjeevani OPD on April 13, 2020, during the initial lockdown. The e-Sanjeevani (AB-HWC) was launched in November 2019. The “Hub & Spoke” model aims to connect 155,000 health and wellness Centres by December 2022 under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme.
Dr. Sanjay Sood on e-Sanjeevani’s Impact
Dr. Sanjay Sood, Associate Director & Project Director, eSanjeevani, noted the platform’s growing popularity as a means of accessing healthcare services. He cited two key factors driving digital conversion:
“e-Sanjeevani team in C-DAC Mohali on the directions of the eHealth Section and National Health Mission at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been working in tandem with over 25 State Governments / National Health Mission(s). these collective efforts have enabled setting up of over 200 virtual OPDS (general and multi-specialities) on e-Sanjeevani and this has in turn led to the spurt in the use of e-Sanjeevani across India – daily over 8,000 patients are seeking healthcare services using e-Sanjeevani.”
He added that the platform’s processes mirror conventional OPD workflows,facilitating quick adoption by both doctors and patients.
“e-Sanjeevani has facilitated quick digital transformation and widespread uptake of telemedicine across the country as of a unique bouquet of benefits that it offers: Free services; Simple processes and workflows for users (patients and doctors); India’s premier institutions like AIIMS, lady hardinge Medical College and Hospital, State Health Departments are amongst the services providers; Continuous and rapid enhancements in the platform based on feedback from users; Support by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Health Missions in the States; Super specialty services (like radiation oncology, adolescent health, anti-retroviral therapy, AYUSH Yoga & Naturopathy, etc.); Accessible from correctional facilities in few States.”
What’s next
The expansion of e-Sanjeevani aims to integrate more Health and wellness Centres, enhancing access to healthcare services across India, especially in rural and underserved areas.