24 May 2010
Ahmedabad, India
`We are making a list of common diseases, which can be dealt by the helpline'
AFTER the 108 emergency ambulance facility, the state may soon get another health service, this time for common ailments like cough, cold and high blood pressure.
The state Health Department has shortlisted nearly 20 private companies from Gujarat and other states to discuss ideas about the proposed 104–health service at a meeting on Monday. A tender in this regard will be floated after the meeting.
Gujarat will be the second state in the country to launch such a toll–free service after Andhra Pradesh.
Dr Sunil Avashiya, Deputy Director (Medical Services), Health Department, said: "The health service was the brainchild of Mahindra Satyam. It was launched in Andhra Pradesh in 2005 and continues to run successfully."
He added: "There are various health issues other than emergencies. The 104 health services can solve this and reduce the workload of the 108 service." `He added that the department will soon come out with a plan to define the structure and the functional part of the new facility.
"There should be some specific features of this service, like if a person suffers a heart attack, his family can call up the helpline for advice," said Dr Avashiya.
He added: "Similarly, there are health issues like swine flu, common cold and blood pressure. We are making a list of common diseases, which can be dealt by the helpline." He said that a permit for the service will be taken from the Centre after the tender process is over.
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