Apollo experience in VSAT enabled mobile telemedicine

The main issues determining the efficiency and effectiveness of health care delivery in the rural setting are health awareness, access and affordability. The DISHA project was developed with the mission of providing basic health care to the rural poor on a sustainable basis. 80% of the cost of therapy is related to travel for the patients and their families, disruption of work and other daily activities. The problems are compounded by limited access to quality health care at affordable cost. Kadamalai kundu village in Theni district (India), 90 kms from Madurai was selected for the implementation of the project. This rural community with a population of 25,000 has high rates of HIV infection and till recently female infanticide. Health care delivery is mainly through the Government Hospital centre at Theni and a small community health centre run by DHAN foundation. The prescreen programme commenced in June 2005 followed by visit of the van from September 2006.