Imagine getting your checkup done for more than 20 vital health parameters like BP and ECG in just 5 minutes by walking into an ATM-like kiosk? It will soon be a reality in Uttar Pradesh, with over 4,000 such health ATMs or health pods about to be set up in rural and suburban areas to improve preventive healthcare services. At the just concluded Uttar Pradesh Global Investors' Summit, the government signed an MoU with India Health Link to install such health ATMs at 4,600 community and primary health centres in the state.
Dr Swadeep Srivastava, co-founder and president of India Health Link (IHL), told ABP Live that the health ATM fits perfectly in filling the gap in primary healthcare infrastructure in India.
"Due to scarcity of diagnostic centres, people walk several kilometers and even one-two days to reach district hospitals. Even at primary healthcare centres, many times doctors are not available and there is a lack of devices. This is where such ATMs will bridge the gap," Dr Srivastava said.
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First Health ATMs To Come Up In 100 Aspirational Blocks Of UP
The health ATMs will be installed in 4,600 sub-centres of UP covering every taluka.
An official from the UP health department said the health ATMs will initially be installed in 100 blocks of UP that are being developed on the lines of aspirational districts.
"It will be set up in community health centres and primary health centres. The basic purpose is to provide accessible healthcare facilities at the doorstep in rural areas. These will help in general screening of the community," Dr CP Kashyap, Director, PHC, told ABP Live.
"People who want to get their basic health checkup done can just walk in and get tested. If some issue crops up, then they will have the option of connecting with a doctor through teleconsultation immediately through the machine," he added.
So, How Does A Health ATM Work?
Like an ATM of a bank, the health pod is an automated touch-screen kiosk fitted with equipment that allows individuals to get their basic vitals like blood pressure, body mass composition, body temperature, six-lead ECG, oxygen saturation levels etc checked within five minutes.
The test reports are immediately made available to the patients through printout, WhatsApp, e-mail and SMS.
Moreover, the machine also has the provision of consultation through telemedicine if there is no doctor available to cater to the patient immediately.
"At hospitals, such ATMs would reduce the load of the outpatient department (OPD) and you can get your vitals checked and all your data is collected at one place," Dr Srivastava said.
Dr Kashyap of the UP health department said the government has made the tests at the ATMs free of cost.
The Made-in-India device, which costs around Rs 4-5 lakh, is presently being manufactured in the Andhra Pradesh med tech zone. However, the firm will set up a manufacturing hub at the upcoming Yeida medical device park along the Yamuna Expressway.
Accuracy And Trials
Srivastava said the health ATM was launched after conducting trials at Dr Mehta's Hospital in Chennai and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi.
"We did a two-year trial at Dr Mehta's Hospital in Chennai and a small test at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi. The reports from the health ATM were corroborated with medical-grade devices separately and it was found to provide an accuracy rate over 97 per cent," he said.
"In one of the hospitals, all their employees went through this program during trials and we found that 52 per cent of them had high BP as well as obesity co-existing," Dr Srivastava added.
Dr Sonia Rawat, Director Executive Health Check-Up, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, who tested the health ATM, said the best part of the machine was that one can have their personal health data available on record digitally on email and can get connected to any doctor through the tele health consultation platform.
"That way it is helpful because people can know about their ailments and they can prevent serious diseases from happening. Basically, prevention is better than cure," she said.
Citing the rising cases of heart attacks in those under 40 years of age, Dr Srivastava said the health ATMs were targeted towards the younger population who usually neglect health screening.
"There is a lack of diagnostic testing culture in India. About 75 per cent of the population between 25-50 years never go for diagnostic tests. That is the reason why they miss the early signs that cause cardiovascular diseases," he said.
An advanced version of the health ATM will also be soon installed where invasive parameters like point-of-care blood test, urine test, rapid test can be done. By just a prick of your finger, you can get more than 30 tests like HIV, blood sugar, haemoglobin and other infection parameters conducted without having to visit the hospital, said Dr Srivastava.