Telangana installs Health ATMs at Govt Hospitals for faster diagnostics
Health ATMs Launched at King Koti and Malakpet Hospitals
Hyderabad: The Telangana government has installed two Health ATMs at government hospitals in King Koti and Malakpet. This pilot initiative marks the first time such machines are being used in government-run hospitals in the city, aiming to offer fast, affordable, and accessible primary healthcare diagnostics to thousands of patients daily.
These self-operated touchscreen kiosks are designed to perform over 130 medical tests, including around 50 blood tests, with results generated within minutes.
The Health ATMs, developed by Delhi-based Cloud Spital, can measure a wide range of parameters — from cardiovascular and pulmonary functions to ECG, lipid profile, liver and kidney function tests, ENT checks, blood pressure, blood sugar, and haemoglobin levels.
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Speaking to TOI, Dr Ajay Kumar, commissioner, Medical Policy Council, said the health ATMs are being tested on a trial basis as they offer instant reports of both basic and advanced tests. "These health kiosks are also in use in other states. With this, the patients can take their reports directly to doctors, helping manage the outpatient load. The machines have been set up based on the directions of health minister Damodar Rajanarasimha, and if the pilot proves successful, we will expand them to more govt PHCs, UPHCs, and other health centres," he explained.
The project is currently undergoing accuracy checks. Health officials are comparing test results from the Health ATMs with those from the Telangana Diagnostics Centre (TDS) at the Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM), Narayanguda. So far, all reports have shown 100% accuracy.
"We are sending two samples every day to the TDS, and over the next two months, we will send around 100 samples to verify accuracy. So far, all the test reports have matched 100% accuracy," said Piyush Solanki of Delhi-based Cloud Spital, which developed the health ATMs."Once a patient's registration is completed during the first visit, the kiosk also stores their data, as it is integrated with a mobile app. Moreover, these health ATMs are linked with the Central govt's health platforms, Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) and the state govt's telemedicine service, E-Sanjeevni," Solanki added, reports the TOI.
While the pilot is receiving positive feedback, doctors have flagged operational challenges in high-traffic hospitals.
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Dr. A Bheemavathi, pathologist supervising the project at both government hospitals, explained that the machines are expected to be more useful for PHCs than for hospitals with a heavy influx of patients. While the report is generated in a few minutes, the entire process is completed in about 45 minutes to an hour. In hospitals with a high volume of test samples, more than one machine would be required to manage the workload.
Noting that results from the health ATMs have been satisfying so far, Dr. A Bheemavathi mentioned that one major advantage is the ability to operate round-the-clock, especially during emergencies, unlike conventional labs where samples cannot be sent to the TDS after 2 pm.
