By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 20: In a bid to make healthcare more accessible, the Geo Web Portal for Health Centres was officially launched on Wednesday by the Department of Health Services (DoHS), Meghalaya.
The portal, inaugurated by DHS (MI) Dr HC Lyndem at the DHS headquarters here, facilitates accessibility analysis and gap analysis, identifying vulnerable populations in remote or hard-to-reach areas.
The Health Geo Web Portal, developed by North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) in collaboration with DHS (MI), utilises satellite imagery and a mobile application to geo-tag (the process of adding geographical identification to media) all health resources across the state.
It plays a crucial role in assessing existing health resources by considering factors such as road connectivity, population density, and topography.
During the launch, a senior scientist from NESAC, PS Singh, provided a detailed technical presentation, justifying the need for space-based solutions. The event was attended by DHS staff and senior scientists from NESAC in Umiam. The goal is to optimise the placement of health resources and plan new infrastructure to reach a maximum number of people across the state.
The comprehensive mapping of existing health facilities is a critical component of effective healthcare planning.
The Meghalaya Geospatial Health Resource Information System integrates these insights into a Unified Geo-Health Information System. This interconnected system combines map intelligence, applications, health data, and people for holistic decision-making.