Cisco and Apollo to create telemedical facilities for rural areas

New Delhi: Asia's largest health care provider, Apollo Hospitals has teid up with Cisco to help transform health care through information and communications technology (ICT).

The joint initiative will help drive inclusive growth and well-being by accelerating access to affordable and high-quality health care via the Cisco HealthPresenceT Extended Reach technology.

"The alliance with Cisco will revolutionise the delivery of health care in India," said Sangita Reddy, executive director - Apollo Hospitals Group. "Cisco HealthPresence Extended Reach technology represents significant advances in technology and telecommunication techniques, effectively delivering health care 24x7 remotely."

This alliance will be executed over three phases with:

• As part of Phase I being announced today, Apollo will leverage ICT to transform its operations
• Phase II would involve Cisco and Apollo undertaking joint thought leadership activities and developing open healthcare IT industry standards
• Phase III will see Apollo and Cisco leveraging ICT solutions to transform healthcare in India, APAC, and Emerging countries.

According to Wim Elfrink, chief globalisation officer and executive vice president, Cisco Services, "Collaborative technologies, powered by ubiquitous broadband access, will enable access to affordable and high-quality health care services in rural and urban communities."

Health care providers face many challenges in the delivery of health care services In India, particularly to suburban and rural areas.