SHILLONG: Manipal Hospital Bangalore will set up its information and telemedicine centre in Shillong and Tura to facilitate the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), a central initiative that targets children from birth till 18 years of age.
The Manipal Information Centre (MIC) will create a single window for people to access information regarding hospitals, doctors, facilities post treatment and telemedicine, among others.
The scheme covers children with congenital heart diseases, among other ailments. An MoU was signed in June 2016 between Manipal Hospitals and the state government for providing treatment to heart patients.
Manipal Hospitals Bangalore has so far conducted more than eight screening camps for new and follow-up cases in Shillong, Tura, Nongstoin, Jowai and Khliehriat.
It has completed more than 200 heart surgeries on children from the state. The treatment is free as the cost of surgery is covered under RBSK implemented by the National Health Mission, Meghalaya.
DM Blah, state nodal officer for RBSK, said there are mobile health teams in all districts who visit anganwadi centres twice a year and schools once a year.
“People should come forward and be ready to take their children for screening. ASHAs also create awareness and tell parents to bring their children forward for screening. At anganwadi centres, they target children from birth to below three years and three years above in schools. They conduct screening to cover 30 selected health conditions,” she added.
Dr Murali Krishna, senior consultant cardiac surgeon from Manipal Hospital Bangalore, said, “We have done some of the most complex surgeries on these kids and they are leading a normal healthy life. The RBSK scheme has come as a boon especially for BPL families as cost for these surgeries under normal circumstances is very high.”
Manipal Hospital has also extended travel and accommodation costs to patients and attendants since the scheme started in July 2016.
Blah said the scheme has helped the poor who could not afford high medical expenses.
