An innovative partnership between NSW and India could help millions of people get access to lifesaving diabetes care.
A smartphone app, pioneered in NSW, which is part of the IMPACT Diabetes program was launched at the George Institute for Global health in New Delhi on Wednesday by New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Harinder Sidhu, Australian High Commissioner to India.
What is this app about?
This app has been designed for doctors and health workers and can be downloaded on a tablet. This app will contain all the information regarding diabetes and it’s identification. It also diagnoses diabetes to help people seek medical attention.
Health workers will play an important role
The executive director of George Institute in India, Dr. Vivekanand Jha told SBS Hindi that this program will be executed with the help of Indian health workers. Health workers associated with ASHA program are being trained. These health workers will visit the rural areas and gather health information through the app.
Efficient and easy to use
Source: georgeinstitute.org
The health workers have electronic blood pressure monitoring devices and weighing machines. The data from these devices can easily be transferred to the app via bluetooth. For easy access to the patient data, the app has been provided to the doctors as well.The app also recommends medicines to the patient based on the available data.
Andhra Pradesh was the first state to get the app
Dr. Jha informed that the program was initially started in western Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh and now the program is successfully running in many districts of Jharkhand and Haryana.
Institute believes that soon the program will run in other parts of India and other countries like Indonesia and Thailand as well.
