Revolutionizing Healthcare in Remote Areas: ‘Doctor on Wheels’ Provides AI-Driven Telemedicine to Over 13,000 Patients in Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Constituency

In a groundbreaking initiative, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh announced in a recent media interview that the “Doctor on Wheels” mobile telemedicine clinic has attended to nearly 13,000 patients in the remote areas of the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Lok Sabha constituency. This state-of-the-art, Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven clinic is the first of its kind, employing cutting-edge technology to offer free medical consultations.

Dr Jitendra Singh explained that the mobile telemedicine clinic screens and thoroughly investigates patients, followed by consultations with super-specialist doctors in leading hospitals located in metros such as Hyderabad and Bengaluru. This entire process, including examination and prescription, is completed within approximately 45 minutes, a significant time-saving compared to traditional hospital visits that may take several days.

The initiative has proven particularly beneficial for women, with the majority of beneficiaries being female. Out of a total of 11,431 beneficiaries in areas such as Doda, Hiranagar, and Kathua-Billawar, 6,643 were women. This positive trend continues in remote Dudu Basantgarh, where 835 women out of 1,452 beneficiaries have sought consultations in 56 villages under 22 Panchayats.

The “Doctor on Wheels” program operates on a philanthropic model, offering free telemedicine services to patients in the constituency through funds raised from voluntary sources. Dr Jitendra Singh emphasized the success of the AI-supported mobile clinic, calling it possibly the first of its kind in the country. He expressed optimism that its success will inspire similar initiatives nationwide.

The “Aarogya-Doctor on Wheels” utilizes AI to understand patients’ native languages, allowing them to describe their illnesses or complaints in their preferred language. Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted the initiative’s role in overcoming challenges related to accessibility, availability, and affordability, particularly benefiting those with weak socio-economic backgrounds.

To further assist patients, the clinic provides prescribed medicines free of charge, and medicine kits containing commonly used drugs are distributed across the constituency. Dr Jitendra Singh underscored the initiative’s alignment with the Prime Minister’s Digital Health Mission and Ayushman Bharat, emphasizing its contribution to bridging the urban-rural healthcare divide.

Currently conducted in Dudu Basantgarh, the mobile telemedicine clinic is part of a phased rollout that covered the Gandoh area of district Doda, Zero Line villages along the International Border, and the upper reaches of Billawar in previous phases. Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted that the service is purely supported by non-government sources, marking a milestone in delivering healthcare services through digital means to underserved communities.