How health ATMs can make healthcare services accessible for all

During the last nearly two years, since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the need for virtual models of healthcare services has increased manifold. And this trend seems set to continue. To avail the accessibility of healthcare, a telemedicine platform, Health ATM, has been launched recently at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. The system, implemented in collaboration with the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, will help create electronic personal health records of residents of the IIT campus. The data collection is currently being done on an experimental basis. The Health ATM will ultimately help in researching health data, using machine learning technologies and tools, that can open new avenues of health data analytics to offer predictive and personalized medicine. On the basis of the research conducted using data of people on the campus, Health ATM will be launched for the common people too.

Health ATM or telemedicine kiosk is an integrated computer, biomedical diagnostics, point of care laboratory tests and videoconferencing system connected to an internet based network that connects the telehealth clinic with doctors working remotely. The centre will record the health parameters of patients, which will open new avenues for health analysis offering personalized medical solutions in the future. It will create electronic Personal Health Records (PHR) for everyone, and these records will be available across healthcare providers cutting down geographical and manmade barriers. Right now, the focus is on the analysis of health data of patients recovering from Covid-19 to study its effects on respiratory, cardiovascular and other body systems.

Health ATM can be an effective platform to provide better and quicker health services to the rural population, and those living in remote areas.

Citizens of new India rightfully expect to live a healthy and productive life. To realize this aspiration and expectation, rapid deployment of telecommunications and internet technology is required to promote digital services. On the one hand, the most developed and highly sophisticated healthcare backed by world class expertise is available in the country making it a much soughtafter medical tourism destination. But on the other, those of our compatriots residing in areas not too far from these high end centres are deprived of some very primitive and basic medical interventions. Bridging the gap of quality healthcare, this Health ATM service is a boon in today's times.

Under the digital India campaign to make such services accessible to every citizen, the National Health Authority of the Government of India is working towards providing quick and easy healthcare solutions to all. To make it a big success, a primary healthcare centre would have to be established in every Gram Panchayat with telemedical access to specialists and super-specialists.

Every district would have a multi-speciality hospital with air ambulance and trauma centre. Notwithstanding this, it would be possible to speedily transfer a patient to a wellequipped hospital within an hour. Through these innovative solutions, even those living in the remotest corners of the country, will have access to advanced health services and medical experts in real time. Innovative facilities like the health ATM will help in accurate monitoring of the health of the country, while preparing the country to deal with future challenges.