Now, a helpline that will aid during medical exigencies

TRICHY: An exclusive medical helpline with an objective to provide medical related information, psychiatric counselling and also to receive complaints about discrepancies in the health sector in the state will start functioning in the district.
The ‘104’ helpline launched by chief minister J Jayalalithaa on June 25 would become functional in a week’s time. Under the programme, all nodal officers in the health department will be provided closed user group (CUG) mobile numbers.
In Trichy district, as many as 86 mobile phones with CUG connections have been received. The mobile phones would be given to all primary health centres and government hospitals in the district.
The caller can make a call 24/7 which will land at the information centre for ‘104’ service in Chennai. The registration officer in the centre will get the personal details of the caller. The call will be further transferred to the health advice officer, or consultant psychiatrist or service improving officer or medical officer in the centre depending upon the service the caller needs.
“The new medical helpline will be helpful for providing good service to the people who are in need of medical advice, treatment etc. Moreover, public can utilise the service to bring any issues to the notice of the higher officials so that the action can be taken to ensure uninterrupted service to the people,” said K Chandra, joint director of health services, Trichy.
The helpline can be used to get tips for pregnant woman and emergency medical care. The 104 is also expected to act as bridge to connect the ‘108’ service. If anyone informs the ‘104’ service for any medical emergency, the call will be connected to ‘108’ service which will come to the rescue. Psychiatric counselling will also be given in the service for those who are depressed.
The patient-friendly scheme however comes with at a price as all the calls made to ‘104’ will be charged. Public feel that some of the poor cannot afford to make calls in case of emergency.