Bengaluru, DHNS: A nurse vaccinates a schoolgirl against measles and rubella at the inauguration of an eLAJ smart clinic in Bengaluru on Tuesday. (From right) Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Health and Family Welfare Minister K R Ramesh Kumar and the department's Principal Secretary Shalini Rajneesh look on. DH PHOTO
Fifteen primary health centres (PHCs) in six districts of Karnataka are set to get eLAJ smart clinics that will be equipped with multi-parameter monitors that enable multiple diagnostic tests and generation of electronic medical record (EMR) of patients.

Biocon Foundation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Department of Health and Family Welfare to set up these clinics in order to provide affordable healthcare services in rural areas. The first eLAJ clinic was opened at Mallathahalli in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

The eLAJ model has been designed to deliver data-based healthcare on the basis of socio-demographic and health indicators obtained from community-based screenings. Doctors, technicians and pharmacists who are trained to handle diagnostic equipment and clinic management software would be posted at these clinics.

The eLAJ model has been implemented at several clinics run by Biocon Foundation in Karnataka. It has also been deployed at a few PHCs in Rajasthan as part of a public private partnership (PPP) to build smart health centres.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare K R Ramesh Kumar said, “Through this initiative, we aim to address the myriad healthcare challenges associated with the poor public health infrastructure. I strongly believe that technology can help transform the public healthcare system in India, particularly in rural and remote areas of our state.”

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson and Managing Director, Biocon, said, “Our aim is to strengthen the present public healthcare system in Karnataka by providing solutions around primary and secondary healthcare by using technology.” Biocon Foundation and its partner, PacketBIO, will provide training to government doctors at PHCs and enable them to run the clinics optimally. In addition, Biocon Foundation will employ 30 technicians to support data entry and laboratory services.