Muscat: Oman has established live connection with the largest private healthcare provider in Asia.
On Monday, Dr Ahmad Bin Abdul Qader Al Gassani, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Health inaugurated the country's first telemedicine service in the private sector, set up by Muscat-based Apollo Medical Centre (AMC) in league with the Apollo Group of Hospitals.
"This is a milestone in healthcare relations between Oman and India," Dr Pratap C. Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Group of Hospitals, in a live address from India, told the gathering of top medical experts at Grand Hyatt Muscat on Monday night.
Oman became the 145th telemedicine centre connected with the Apollo Group of Hospitals in India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
"Apollo Group of Hospitals, the first in the world to set up a health city, has already successfully performed 59,000 heart surgeries," enthused Dr Reddy, adding that now patients from Oman can first consult experts in India through 24-hour telemedicine service before travelling for treatment.
"This would save time and help doctors in India prepare for a case before patients arrival," Dr Hari Prasad, CEO of Apollo Health City, said during the press conference. He said after Oman, Yemen would be linked with telemedicine service.
Largest network
Apollo Telemedicine Network (ATN), inaugurated by former US president Bill Clinton in 2000 in Hyderabad, is the largest telemedicine network in the region.
"I don't know of any telemedicine service in the world that has more than 100 centres around the world," he claimed.
Dr Hari also said that they were not only in major cities but also connected with small towns in India. ATN provides ready access to specialists and super-specialists in India for consultation and for second opinion services.
Apart from video consultation, specialists in India can review investigations of patients in Oman [including laboratory tests, X-ray, sonogram, CT scan and MRI] and give a comprehensive opinion to patients.
This modality can also be used for taking a second opinion from experienced Apollo doctors in complex clinical situations.
"Apart from the ready access which is extremely critical in clinical situations, it is convenient, avoids travel and is extremely cost-effective," Dr Hari pointed out.
