Dr. Dinesh K. Tyagi, CEO-CSC SPV
CSC e-Governance Services India Limited is the foremost institution in India to offer animal telemedicine facility (e-Pashu Chikitsa) through its last mile CSC network across the country. CSCs are now extending a helping hand to farmers and animal readers by providing tele-veterinary facility close to their place of residence. For villagers, farm animals are as important as human beings, being an integral part of his/her life.
VLEs can auto-login through the CSC services portal and get the following services:
Help the animal owner to add patient’s details
Schedule appointments with veterinary doctor
Facilitate video/audio/text chat with doctor
Print and Issue the doctors prescribed slip
Help in procurement of medicine and provide further support in follow up
Qualified veterinary doctor is available on the panel from 09.30 AM to 6:00 PM, five days a week and provides consultation to the farmer though the VLE. In a large number of cases, the farm animals suffer from Ascariasis that affects their productivity. The milch animals produce less due to such diseases, which if treated can help in enhancing the income of the farmer. The existing number of qualified veterinarians cannot meet the requirements of the farmers across the country. Some models as one designed by Amul in Gujarat has been exemplary where the veterinarians were utilizing the wireless technology in communicating and has been using vehicle for easy and timely reach to the place. Similar issues/constraints are applicable to non milch animals. Poultry, fishery and Goatery and productivity can get a boost if online veterinary services are extended. This would help enhance the farmer /villager’s income besides providing employment opportunity in rural India.
The tele-consultation process involves following steps:
a. Picture and short video link of the diseased part of animal is captured by the animal owner.
b. A consent form is taken from the owner/farmer.
c. The owner has to visit the CSC and make a registration for the doctor’s appointment.
d. The video Google drive/ Drop Box link and pictures are shared with the team of veterinary doctors.
e. The doctor diagnoses and sends the advice/ prescription for the animal to the VLE after consulting through the video.
f. The VLE handovers the prescription to the animal owner.
In Uttar Pradesh, CSC SPV has recently conducted e-Pashu Chikitsa camps in gau shalas across all districts and earned extensive media coverage and appreciation as a unique initiative. All CSCs need to extend veterinary tele-consultation services to farmers. This will significantly create a unique position for the CSC VLE in the Panchayat, enhance his/her business and support the State in improving veterinary health services, which is facing problems due to lack of qualified resources. We can significantly enhance the rural economy and create gainful employment opportunity through enhancing animal husbandry. editor@ictpost.com
