Smart healthcare system at Chitaguppi hosp remains only on paper

Hubballi: The Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation's (HDMC) Chitaguppi Hospital introduced a ‘Smart Healthcare System' under the Smart City project, investing over Rs 3.5 crore. However, the system appears to exist only on paper.
Gurunath Ullikashi from Vividha Dalita Sangha Samsthegala Mahamandala alleged that the project aimed to revolutionise the hospital by implementing various advanced facilities, such as electronic medical records (EMR), virtual healthcare, smart diagnostics, and smart hospital management system software.It promised benefits like quick access to patient records, recording vital information through telemedicine kits, and connecting doctors with patients through video conferencing.
The Smart healthcare project also included an artificial intelligence platform to support healthcare applications like automated disease prediction and classification for diabetic retinopathy, breast cancer, skincare, and liver and kidney functions. An integrated pharmacy vending machine with QR code prescription validation and a medicine validation module was also featured, he added.
However, upon interacting with the hospital staff, it was discovered that many were unaware of the advanced facilities mentioned in the project, except for the registration of OPD and IPD patients. Some staff members attributed the improper implementation to staff shortage, despite the system's well-publicised introduction. Patients reported that their reports were still handwritten, even though they were supposed to be digitised.
Sources in the HDMC revealed that the company responsible for setting up the system is obligated to maintain it for five years, which is expected to conclude soon. The issue of the non-operational Smart healthcare system was reportedly discussed during an audit in 2021, but due to the negligence of the HDMC and Hubballi-Dharwad Smart City Limited (HDSCL), the system remains on paper without proper utilisation of the advanced technology.
Rudresh Gali, MD of HDSCL, stated that he had visited Chitaguppi Hospital and found the system in place, but they have discontinued the use of the medicine vending machine, which was dispensing more drugs than prescribed by the doctor.
Dr MC Sindhur, a practising doctor and social activist, said: "There is a need for a thorough enquiry into why the system implemented by spending public money was stopped. Crores of public money involved in the project, the departments concerned should conduct an enquiry and also initiate appropriate action."