A New Telemedicine System for Contacting Doctors Installed At Nashik Central Prison

Nashik Road Central Prison gets a new telemedicine system. Through this facility medical experts at the Nashik civil hospital can be contacted for getting advice about the health conditions of the inmates. The telemedicine system at the hospital has been linked with the prison for the purpose, the system prevents prisoners' attempts to escape during transportation to the hospital. The telemedicine system is a combination of telecommunication and information technologies. The jail has a 72-bed hospital having facilities like blood, sugar and urine examinations. For further examinations and treatment, the inmates are sent to the Nashik civil hospital, say sources.

Additional civil surgeon GM Holey of the civil hospital said, "Over the past one month or so quite a few medical cases of jail inmates have been taken up for discussion through the telemedicine system."

On September 12, 2012, Satish Mahipal Valmiki a jail inmate was reportedly suffering from a spinal problem, for which he was taken to the civil hospital for check up, along with 15 other inmates, who also complained of orthopedic problems. On their way back, Mahipal managed to escape through the emergency exit of the police van despite the presence of 11 cops deployed for the escort of the prisoners. He is yet to be traced. In March 2013, Sameer Pathan, booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, was brought to the civil hospital for medical checkup. When he was not allowed to speak to his father who had also come to the hospital, Sameer attacked the sub-inspector of the escort party and attempted to escape from custody. However, the cops managed to overpower the father-son duo and arrest them. The telemedicine facility may help prevent such incidents in the future, revealed officials.

Source-Medindia