Mchanelling in Government hospitals

Monday, 11 November 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Mchanelling in Government hospitals implemented jointly by the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Mobitel was inaugurated at the Dompe District Hospital recently. The facility called ‘the automated (IVR platform) appointment system’ was officially launched by Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya.

This facility could be availed of at the Dompe District Hospital by calling 0711370370. Subsequently once the given steps are followed the patient will be automatically informed through an SMS the time he could visit the physician concerned. Explaining the modus operandi of the automated (IVR platform) appointment system, Medical Officer in charge of ‘eHOSPITAL-Dompe’ Project District Hospital – Dompe Dr. K.B. Sampath Kulathilaka stated: “A patient can call to Hot line No: 0711-370370 by a mobile phone and go on according to the instructions to get an appointment. The patient will receive a confirmation SMS. The SMS should be shown to the hospital reception desk. The validity of SMS is checked there by a web interface and a ‘Priority card’ is issued. Then the patient is sent to a specific doctor, assigned for appointments. After consultation the patient is sent to the priority counter of the dispensary. This is a free service and the first of such initiatives in the Government health sector. The number of appointments issued is decided by the hospital by logging in to the web.” Commenting on this project of mchanelling in Government Hosptials, Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said: “This is very relevant in the current context when the number of phones in use in the country exceeds its population.” The Minister also said that the use of information technology thus for providing a systematic health service was a very helpful step. It goes a long way in fulfilling the ‘Mahinda Chinthana Vision for the Future’ goal of making the lives of the people as comfortable as possible through the use of ICT.” Expressing his views on the launch of the mchannelling facility, the first ever in a Government hospital in Sri Lanka, ICTA CEO Reshan Dewapura said: “As society advances facilities for people also increase. The ‘Mahinda Chinthana – Vision for the Future’ Government’s development policy statement has set out the goals and challenges clearly. Bringing the optimum dividends of ICT development to all, especially the disadvantaged is a core challenge placed before the nation. The major role and responsibility of contributing the appropriate share in meeting this challenge lies with those knowledgeable in the various fields. However a concerted effort is required for ensuring maximum ICT benefits to the people. The project launched today at the Dompe District Hospital is a major first step in making the benefits of ICT available to all, especially the disadvantaged. Prior to this facility of online chanelling was available only in some private hospitals. With this project the first step has been taken to extend online chanelling to Government hospitals as well.”