Bangalore, Mar 15 (UNI) A unique rural healthcare facility ''Hrudaya post'' was launched in Karnataka today to enable heart patients in villages scan and send their medical reports to superspeciality hospital Narayana Hrudayalaya for consultation from a neighbourhood post office.

The Postal Department and Superspeciality Hospital Narayana Hrudayalaya have joined hands to offer ''Hrudaya Post'. Under the scheme, first of its kind in the history of health care, heart patients in small towns and villages can go to any of the Post office and send their entire medical reports by scanning and uploading to Narayana Hrudayalaya.

The Hospital in turn, within 24 hours, after studying the report, would send a detailed report back to the sender thus saving time to visit Heart Specialist for advice.

Narayana Hrudayalaya Chairman Dr Devi Shetty, talking to newsmen here, said that the service of studying and advice to patients, including medicine prescription, would be provided free of cost.

"Our aim is to link the post offices to our hospital, so that heart patients living in small town and villages can get medical advice at their door step." Replying to a question, he said that people living in villages were also equally vulnerable to heart disease as in urban areas.

Dr Shetty said that besides advising about the treatment, the hospital would also help in meeting financial requirement for the needy patients.

He said that 'Hrudaya Post' would be of great helpful for the heart patients in rural areas since about 99 per cent of heart patients does not need surgery and can be cured with medicine. More than 30 Surgeons and 200 personnel of Narayana Hrudayala would be working 24 hours to serve the people, he added.

Replying to a question, he said that more than 22,000 people were treated since last five years of introduction of Telemedicine introduced in association with Indian Satellite Research Organisation (ISRO).

Heart Specialist Dr Jairaj of Narayana Hrudayalaya said that under Karnataka government's unique health scheme 'Yashasvini' more than three million people were insured.

Karnataka Chief Post Master General Meera Datta, in her address, said that, to begin with the 'Hrudaya Post' would be introduced in 25 District Post offices and gradually it would be extended to all post offices in the State. It has been decided to charge Rs 100 for scanning and sending the report to the Hospital and additional Rs 25 would be charged if a person desires the report be delivered at his door step.

She said that there are 511 post offices in Karnataka with Computer facility and one of the computer may be devoted for the purpose.

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