MTN splashes R4m on e-health

By Siyabonga Africa, ITWeb junior journalist

Johannesburg, 24 Mar 2009

MTN SA Foundation will be spending more than R4 million on providing bandwidth to four primary healthcare telemedicine workstations, which are being opened in the Free State.

The workstations were funded by the Innovation Fund, which falls under the Department of Science and Technology, and were developed by the Stellenbosch University and SA`s Medical Research Council (MRC).

MTN spokesperson Rochelle van der Ross says the Botshabelo community, in the Free State, will become one of the first beneficiaries of the four telemedicine workstations that will be implemented at rural hospitals. She adds that Limpopo will be the next province which will receive a workstation as a part of the programme.

"The first implementation was in conjunction with the Free State Department of Health. Forty more machines will be rolled out in the provinces, in conjunction with the national Department of Health and Municipalities," she explains.

Technology to help the masses

MRC president Tony Mbewu explains in a statement that telemedicine technology allows patients to receive comprehensive care at a local clinic or hospital instead of being referred to a tertiary hospital with the appropriate services.

"This reduces the cost of unnecessary patient transfers and saves the patient valuable time and expenses when away from work or their family."

The research council and Stellenbosch University developed the solution, which will go nationwide, which incorporates technologies such as an integrated and intelligent video control, a familiar consumer type user interface, clinic adapted capturing and does not require specialised knowledge on operating systems.