Delta Govt. Set To Introduce Telemedicine, Meets With Globacom

By Andy Adaigbe (FLAGNEWS).

The Delta State Government has commenced plans to partner Globacom telecommunication company towards digitalising the health care system in the state.
 The Executive Assistant to the Delta state governor on E-health and chairman Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Isioma Okobah and other officials of the agency, today, played host to the officials of the Globacom led by the Zonal Head, Enterprise-Sales, Mid-West zone Mr. Ralph Ehimhen  and the Regional Marketing head, Software Business Solutions Consulting (SBSC), Mr. Rajesh Pama.

Both parties deliberated intensively on pertinent issues regarding the deployment of the digitisation of the delta state health care system.
 Dr. Okobah maintained that the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, was interested in the E-health (Telemedicine), across the state encompassing both the secondary and tertiary health systems.
 She argued that the telemedicine would curb transportation hazards, help in reducing mortality rate and help improve medical outcome in the state. Dr. Okobah reaffirmed that other services such as maternal and neonatal services, immunization of children from preventable diseases, among others, would be covered in line with the Health For All Deltans Policy in the SMART agenda of the state governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa.


Dr  Okobah emphasized the need to utilise the resident doctors who would be adequately trained to diagnose and prescribe drugs electronicically, this, according to her, would enhance comprehension during patient/doctors interaction. The chairman of the agency also advocated a call center working 24/7 and concessions on the data cost and lower tariff during online interactions between doctors and patients.

Earlier, the Globacom officials stated that the idea was to make Delta state the number one in medical milestones through partnership, disclosing that  optimization of the glo network would commence with 4G as soon as possible both in the rural and urban areas of the state.
 They stated that other features of the radiological services would  include, Electronic Diagnosis and Prescription, E-Pharmacy, Electronic Medical Records/ Inventory for Patients' History, Health Tips , Reminders for Appointments with Doctors, among others.

The highlight of the meeting was the demo on the telemedicine through an App on mobile phone device.