Hakim launches e-Health centre in New Town

State urban development minister Firhad Hakim inaugurated a e-Health centre at New Town on Tuesday. The New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) West Bengal will run the service mainly for the people of low income group.

The e-Health service will now be available in three places of the New Town. Those centres would be located – in Swapano Bhor – a senior citizen park, one in action area II and other in action area II.

But, how will it function? The chairman of the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBHIDCO) -- the development agency of this township, Debashis Sen said, the e-health centre will have a general physician and paramedical staff.

A patient can undergo preliminary check-ups and consult a doctor online from the e-health centre. It will cater to first aid and other basic primary healthcare requirements, like sugar and pressure tests. The reports will be sent online to the doctors. Then the doctors will give the necessary advices.

WBHIDCO have done the project by making the site ready. Hewlett-Packard (HP) has made all the equipment to run the centres.

“State Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim has inaugurated this project today (Tuesday). We will charge only Rs 50. It is pocket friendly and many poor people could avail this facility,” Sen said.

However, New Town, being a sophisticated township has planed many new initiatives. The city is being made with top class facilities in the line of reputed in cities across the globe. New Town will also house some private hospitals which are in the making.