Apollo Hospitals to offer e-medicine

With tele-medicine coming of age, the 240 WebWorld outlets of Reliance Infocomm will become extended out patient departments (OPDs) of the Apollo Hospitals, enabling the ailing to seek medical guidance and assistance from doctors.

The Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Enterprises (ADAE) group company, under its e-medicine initiatives, is joining hands with the Chennai-based heart and lung care major to facilitate online diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases and cancer.

Internet and telecom major ADAE will encourage patients to visit its WebWorlds, a chain of retail outlets, and receive "remote consultation" from doctors sitting at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai and other group health facilities.

The medical history of the patient would be mailed to the doctor, enabling him to do his homework before the online consultation process begins, sources close to the development said.

When contacted, Reliance Infocomm executives refused to comment on the project. Officials of Apollo Hospitals were unavailable for comments as well.