Ghaziabad: At least 14 medical officers in Ghaziabad failed to conduct a single teleconsultation under the Centre’s e-Sanjeevani scheme in Sept and are being served notices for falling short of the prescribed monthly target of 60 consultations. The data has raised concerns over the implementation of the digital healthcare initiative meant to provide medical advice to patients remotely.According to information from the district health department, 139 medical officers collectively conducted 8,266 teleconsultations during the month, averaging 59.47 consultations per doctor — marginally below the target. While some doctors managed to conduct up to 44 consultations, several others recorded only three to 23 consultations. Fourteen doctors, meanwhile, had zero consultations against their names.The low participation comes despite the scheme being designed to improve access to healthcare, particularly for patients who may find it difficult to travel to govt health facilities. Through e-Sanjeevani, patients can seek medical advice remotely using digital platforms, reducing the need for physical visits for routine consultations and follow-ups.Chief medical officer Dr Sachin Vaish said notices were being issued to medical officers whose performance data was found to be inaccurate. “The department is examining the records to establish the reasons behind the low or zero consultation figures. Doctors are instructed to provide proper services through telemedicine calls,” he added.Launched by the Union health ministry in Nov 2019, e-Sanjeevani is govt’s national telemedicine service. It operates through two models — doctor-to-doctor consultations, which connect health and wellness centres with specialist doctors at designated hubs, and patient-to-doctor consultations, which allow people to directly access medical professionals through their smartphones or other digital devices.The platform is intended to bridge gaps in healthcare access, especially in rural and underserved areas, by enabling patients to consult doctors without having to travel long distances. It can also help reduce the burden on hospitals by facilitating consultations for non-emergency medical conditions.However, the Sept figures in Ghaziabad indicate that the scheme’s intended benefits may be undermined if doctors do not actively participate in the service.
