Sunkarametta PHC selected as Tata Sanjeevani digital nerve centre pilot in ASR district
The Sunkarametta Primary Health Centre (PHC) in the Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district of Andhra Pradesh has been selected as the pilot site for the Tata Sanjeevani Digital Nerve Centre, a digital healthcare initiative aimed at improving access to medical services in remote tribal areas. The district administration confirmed the selection on Monday.
District Collector T. Nishanthi, who visited the PHC, said digital health records would be created for residents of villages under the four gram panchayats within the PHC's jurisdiction through Sanjeevani registration. This step, she explained, is intended to facilitate timely delivery of healthcare services to people in these tribal pockets.
The platform will enable patients to book appointments, access teleconsultations with specialist doctors, obtain referrals, schedule diagnostic tests, and receive information on government health schemes. These services will be provided free of cost through the Sanjeevani Citizen App and a toll-free helpline, 155337, operational from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Saturday.
Ms. Nishanthi said the digitisation of health records would help improve emergency response and strengthen healthcare delivery in tribal areas, where geographical barriers and limited infrastructure often delay medical care. She highlighted that the initiative is expected to reduce the need for long-distance travel to district hospitals for common consultations.
The ASR district, which has a significant tribal population, has historically faced challenges in healthcare delivery due to hilly terrain and scattered habitations. Public health centres like Sunkarametta often serve as the first point of contact for primary care, but they face shortages of specialists and equipment. The digital nerve centre aims to bridge this gap by connecting local PHCs with remote specialist support through technology.
The selection of Sunkarametta PHC for the pilot is part of a broader push to integrate digital health services into rural India, aligning with national efforts to expand telemedicine and digital health records. The success of this pilot could guide similar initiatives in other tribal and remote areas across the state.
During her visit, the Collector also launched the poster for World Breastfeeding Week, observed annually from August 1 to 7. She was joined by medical staff and lactating mothers. She appealed for wide participation in the campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers.
World Breastfeeding Week is a global health observance that emphasises the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child's life, followed by continued breastfeeding alongside complementary foods. The district administration's involvement underscores its commitment to child and maternal health.
Residents of the four gram panchayats served by the PHC are expected to benefit from the digital initiative, as it will provide them with a more efficient system for accessing healthcare services. The digital records will also enable better tracking of patient histories, ensuring continuity of care and more informed decision-making by health providers.
The district administration expressed optimism about the pilot project, noting that it represents a significant step forward in leveraging technology for public health. Further expansion to other PHCs in the district may be considered based on the outcomes observed during the pilot phase.
