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LUCKNOW A nurse stationed outdoors the Health ATM on Mohan Road has only one responsibility at current — inform the general public that services to conduct free well being assessments are at the moment unavailable. This explicit Health ATM has been non-functional for over a month now.

“The health ATM lacks power supply, rendering it inactive. Despite communicating our concerns to supervisors, no actions have been taken so far,” said Yogesh Kumar, the nurse assigned to this location.

“To escape the scorching indoor heat, I sit outside every day. Occasionally, when a nurse at a nearby Health ATM takes leave or doesn’t show up, I step in to manage that ATM for the day. Otherwise, I spend my days outside and cannot attend to any patients,” mentioned 32-year-old Kumar.

Meanwhile, round 2.30 pm, the Health ATM close to Amir-ud-daula Public Library, located inside a bustling market and residential space of the state capital, was discovered to be locked. Residents famous that the ATM stays unoccupied more often than not because of minimal foot site visitors. Often, the workers deployed to handle the ATM is absent.

The Health ATM at sector-2, Vikas Nagar, is operational however at the moment, gives solely fundamental well being check-ups — together with blood stress, diabetes assessments, pulse measurement, and peak and weight evaluation. Attendant Neha talked about that extra complete companies will solely be accessible just a few months down the road.

Another useful ATM, situated close to Tikona Park near Lucknow Zoo, additionally offers fundamental well being companies. A neighborhood resident talked about, “This location doesn’t witness much turnout. It’s quite inconspicuous within the park’s surroundings, shielded by trees. People generally prefer nearby public hospitals over this facility.”

However, throughout visits to Health ATMs at numerous places, a number of have been discovered totally operational with workers attending to guests. Health ATMs on the Rumi Darwaza police outpost, MIS (Modern Indian School) crossing at Rajajipuram, and Sana Hospital in LDA Colony on Mohan Road have the required tools and equipment, working from round 9:30 am to five:00 pm every single day besides Sunday. According to on-site nurses, they obtain a median of 5 to 6 walk-in sufferers every day.

“We were planning to introduce blood-related tests starting from August 15 but the instructions for these tests are yet to be received,” mentioned the workers assigned to the Health ATM at Jal Sansthan workplace in A-block, Indira Nagar. The nurse on the ATM close to Rumi Darwaza famous that, for now, the ATMs provide peak, weight, pulse, blood stress, first assist, and some different fundamental check-ups free of charge. Additionally, sufferers have the choice to attach with a health care provider at PGI by way of the kiosks throughout the ATMs free of charge consultations. Kumar added that just a few different chargeable assessments can even be accessible at Health ATMs within the coming months.

What is the position of Health ATMs?

Similar to an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) dishing out cash, a Health ATM is a touch-screen kiosk able to conducting a wide range of assessments for a number of illnesses in a matter of minutes. These assessments embrace peak, weight, physique temperature, blood stress, oxygen saturation ranges, BMI, and fats content material.

Visibility points

A majority of the Health ATM kiosks are strategically situated in densely populated areas, although they’re typically positioned a bit away from fundamental roads. Consequently, regardless of that includes superior devices for fundamental well being assessments, these well being ATMs often go unnoticed.

“These health ATMs are not easily discoverable through a simple Google search. Enhancing their visibility through the internet is crucial, considering nearly every family possesses multiple cell phones. Additionally, spreading awareness about these ATMs and their locations through social media could significantly boost turnout,” mentioned Dr Abhishek Shukla, Secretary General of the Association of International Doctors.

“The tests offered by these Health ATMs are essential for basic health screening but people are unaware that these tests are provided free of charge. All hospital OPD slips should include information about nearby Health ATMs, ensuring patients and attendants are informed about their locations and services,” proposed Dr PK Gupta, former president of the Indian Medical Association, Lucknow.

Low Visitor Count

While some Health ATMs aren’t totally operational, the shortage of public consciousness stays a major issue of their underutilisation. Despite being positioned in strategic places throughout the state capital, these well being ATMs fail to draw a considerable variety of guests, despite the fact that they supply a variety of assessments freed from price.

For occasion, Indira Nagar Bal Mahila Chikitsalaya witnesses over 1,000 every day guests, however solely a dozen or so people utilise the Health ATM companies every day. “Very few patients or attendants come for check-ups. The ATM is right in front of the main entrance, yet people don’t pay attention to the free tests available here,” mentioned the neighborhood well being officer stationed at this Health ATM.

What do officers say?

Health ATMs are poised to revolutionise healthcare by providing important help to city populations, in accordance with Pankaj Kumar Singh, further municipal commissioner. He emphasised that expertise is reshaping healthcare, with folks in search of doorstep companies. Health ATMs, an initiative to assist the widespread, notably the underserved, align with this shift.

SK Jain from GM Smart City Limited highlighted collaboration with Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute (PGI), which has skilled paramedical and technical workers. Video conferences by way of the PGI’s telemedicine community enable free medical recommendation, supplied by 10 common physicians and 5 specialists. This integration goals to reinforce Smart City’s service supply utilizing sensing tech and knowledge analytics.

Over 50 assessments may be carried out at these well being ATMs for a nominal price. Trained paramedics carry out fundamental assessments, together with blood pattern assortment and blood stress measurement. With 94 operational ATMs, folks can full a full physique check-up inside 10 minutes, benefiting these returning dwelling late because of work. Future plans embrace these ATMs serving as pattern assortment centres for illnesses like dengue, malaria, HIV, and typhoid.

Professor Radha Krishna Dhiman, director of SGPGIMS, lauds the technical and scientific help supplied by SGPGIMS to Health ATMs. Acknowledging the latest launch, he anticipates these ATMs providing substantial reduction to time-constrained residents who discover visiting giant hospitals difficult.