Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, February 07, 2017
Biocon Foundation, the CSR arm of Asia's premier biopharmaceuticals company, Biocon, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Health & Family Welfare of Karnataka to establish eLAJ smart clinics in 15 Primary Healthcare Centres across six districts in Karnataka.
eLAJ clinics are technology-enabled, smart clinics equipped with multi-parameter monitoring device developed by PacketBIO, the technology partner of Biocon Foundation, which enables multiple diagnostic tests and generation of electronic medical records (EMRs) of patients. The eLAJ model has been designed to deliver data-based healthcare on the basis of socio-demographic and health indicators obtained from community-based screenings. This innovative health delivery model will facilitate effective preventive and primary healthcare intervention in the rural areas of Karnataka for the benefit of communities with poor access to quality healthcare.
Mr. K.R. Ramesh Kumar, Minister for Medical, Health and Family Welfare along with Ms Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Founder, Biocon Foundation, inaugurated the first eLAJ smart clinic under this collaboration at Mallathahalli today. The Government of Karnataka and Biocon Foundation are focused on building a scalable and sustainable healthcare model that will make affordable healthcare accessible to rural communities.
Speaking on the launch, Mr. K. R. Ramesh Kumar, Hon'ble Minister, Medical, Health & Family Welfare Dept., Govt. of Karnataka stated, "Through this collaboration with Biocon Foundation, we aim to address the myriad healthcare challenges associated with poor public health infrastructure. I strongly believe technology can help transform the public healthcare scenario in India, particularly in rural and remote areas of our state."
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson and Managing Director, Biocon said, "Biocon Foundation is pleased to partner with the Govt. of Karnataka to enable data based healthcare delivery to the people of the state through eLAJ smart clinics. We aim to strengthen the present public healthcare system in Karnataka by providing solutions around primary & secondary healthcare with effective use of technology. Biocon Foundation is recognized widely for implementing innovative healthcare models to create a sustainable health ecosystem. By joining hands with the government, we aspire to benefit many more villages in Karnataka through the eLAJ model that combines good infrastructure, latest technology and the best available medical expertise."
Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka; Shri Subodh Yadav, IAS, Commissioner, Health, Family Welfare & AYUSH Services, Government of Karnataka and Dr. Rathan Kelkar, IAS, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Government of Karnataka were the eminent guests present at the inauguration.
Biocon Foundation and its partner, PacketBIO, will provide training to government doctors at the Primary Health Centres and enable them to run the clinics optimally. In addition, Biocon Foundation will employ more than 30 technicians to support data entry and laboratory services.
About eLAJ Smart Clinics:
eLAJ smart clinics are technology-enabled clinics equipped with a multi-parameter monitoring device developed by PacketBIO, the technology partner of Biocon Foundation, which enables multiple diagnostic tests and generation of electronic medical records (EMR) of patients which are synchronised with diagnostic equipment. The multi-parameter monitor (MPM) in the clinics collect vitals like blood pressure, temperature, blood sugar level, SpO2, pulse rate, and weight. The health data of patients are captured on the eLAJ electronic medical record system and linked to an individual’s Aadhar allowing for birth-to-death tracking of health parameters of patients.
eLAJ smart clinics are staffed with doctors, technicians and pharmacists who are trained to handle state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and clinic management software, all connected to a secure server. With the introduction of eLAJ in the Primary Healthcare Centres in Karnataka, the government can provide access to affordable healthcare services in remote rural areas.
The eLAJ model has been implemented at several Biocon Foundation clinics in Karnataka. It has also been deployed at some Primary Health Centres in Rajasthan as a part of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative to build Smart Health Centres that can optimize delivery of healthcare to underserved communities.
In FY16, nearly 11,639 patients were registered on this platform in four clinics in Karnataka, out of which 54% were male and 46% female. The Blood Pressure analysis showed that 24% of our patients had high BP readings, which indicated a need for counselling and stringent monitoring of these patients. The BMI analysis showed that 57% of our patients were overweight.
These statistics help in identification of patients who are at risk, and for such patients, a proper care pathway was designed. eLAJ is a tool that helps in developing data based health interventions for individuals and communities.
About Biocon Foundation:
Biocon Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Biocon, is relentlessly working to empower marginalized communities since 2005. We believe our corporate social responsibility lies in creating a comprehensive ecosystem that can deliver effective and affordable healthcare solutions. We also support education initiatives that can impart better learning to the disadvantaged students in rural schools and empower communities by providing proper infrastructure for self-sustained villages with health centre, community center, schools, sanitation, water and source of light. With a vision of reaching the unreached, Biocon Foundation scaled up its programs to newer geographies in Rajasthan, Assam and Nagaland in 2016. The success of providing affordable healthcare solutions in Karnataka led Biocon Foundation to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Rajasthan, to run three Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) with an aim of improving primary healthcare facilities for underprivileged communities. We plan to make the PHC a smart health centre by introducing eLAJ, an electronic health record system introduced by Biocon Foundation.
Visit: http://www.bioconfoundation.org
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