Purpose: These health ATMs, launched by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, aim to improve rural diagnostics and provide affordable healthcare, helping to alleviate the heavy demand on government hospitals.
*To delve deeper into how these innovative health ATMs are transforming healthcare access in rural areas, you can read the full article here: Health ATMs: A shot in the arm for rural diagnostics.
Functionality: They operate similarly to bank ATMs but are for health-related information and tests. They can perform over 50 types of tests, including:
- Invasive and non-invasive blood tests
- Blood pressure, diabetes, body temperature, hemoglobin, heart check-ups
- Blood and glucose levels, oxygen saturation
- Even HIV tests
Speed and Reporting: Basic tests can be completed within 20-30 minutes, and patients receive their reports via WhatsApp, SMS, or email.
Administration: While some tests can be self-administered, most require assistance from a nurse and lab technician.
Impact: Thousands of people have utilized the 25 machines installed across various taluks and Kalaburagi city, indicating a positive response.
Challenges: The program faces challenges due to staff shortages in hospitals, increasing the workload for existing medical staff who operate these machines in addition to their regular duties.
Future: Despite the challenges, the district health officer noted an overwhelming response and expressed interest in increasing the number of machines if more funds become available, though there are no immediate plans for dedicated staff.
