Pakistan Deputy Commissioner of Abbottabad Sarmad Saleem Akram recently inaugurated the “Umeed-e-Sehat Telemedicine Programme” at the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital to provide specialist medical consultation to residents of remote and difficult-to-access areas.

Under the program, citizens will be able to consult specialist doctors through video calls without having to travel long distances to hospitals. The facility would especially benefit elderly people, persons with disabilities, women and residents who live in remote areas.

During the initial phase, telemedicine services will be available three days a week. Citizens can contact the hospital through WhatsApp at: 03195416589 for video consultation with doctors within the relevant outpatient department.

The service will be available from 12 noon to 1:30 pm on Tuesdays for the medical outpatient department, Wednesdays for the Surgical outpatient department, and Thursdays for the gynecology outpatient department.

Doctors will provide online consultation on general health problems and common illnesses through the medical outpatient department, surgery-related issues through the surgical outpatient department, and women’s health and gynecological problems through the gynecology outpatient department.

A committee headed by the additional deputy commissioner of finance and planning has also been engaged to ensure effective implementation and monitoring of the program. The medical superintendent of DHQ Hospital and the district health officer will serve as members of the committee.

The committee will oversee integration of the telemedicine system with hospitals, basic health units (BHUs) and rural health centers (RHCs) across the district.

During the announcement of the program, Akram directed the relevant authorities to ensure uninterrupted operation of the program and effective monitoring of the telemedicine services. He said the district administration was focused on using modern technology to improve access to quality healthcare for people living in remote areas.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Medical Superintendent of DHQ Hospital Dr. Amir Asrar, Assistant Commissioner of Abbottabad Afrasiab Zubair Hindal, DMS, and other pertinent officials.

The DHQ Hospital Abbottabad is a major government healthcare facility located in Kehal, Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Specialties include General Medicine, Cardiology, Gynecology & Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Orthopedics, and Dermatology.