LAHORE: Governor Chaudhry Sarwar on Monday inaugurated Punjab Telemedicine Centre of Excellence Call Centre at the King Edward Medical University (KEMU) where more than 30 doctors will be present all week for 24 hours.

The governor said that 25 more telemedicine call centres would function across Punjab, including Lahore, within a week, while more than 3,000 doctors had so far been registered for these centres. The government was taking effective steps to control the spread of coronavirus, however, people must adopt precautionary measures responsibly, he added.

Mr Sarwar also talked to the callers and inquired about facilities being provided by the centre, assured them that the government was taking all measures to control coronavirus and urged them to fully adopt safety measures.

He congratulated the vice chancellor and staff of the KEMU, who were working at the telemedicine call centre. “We set up the first coronavirus telemedicine helpline centre at the University of Health Sciences, and six more centres have been established where more than 3,000 doctors are working round the clock.”

He further said that now instead of rushing to hospitals, people could receive all coronavirus-related advisories, preventions and other support at their homes, while those needing tests were being shifted to hospitals through the Rescue 1122 service. “We are trying our best to make 27 more telemedicine centres operational in other cities of Punjab within a week,” he claimed.

After KEMU, the governor mentioned, more call centres would be established in other medical universities and colleges of Punjab and work on them had been initiated. Professor doctors and consultants would remain present at these centres 24 hours to effectively guide and help people, he added.

KEMU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Masood Gondal also briefed the governor about the number of doctors as well as calls received at the centre among other issues.

Dr Bilqees Shabbir, Prof Sara Afzal, IT Director Muhammad Tariq Irfan and others were also present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2020