A woman being treated for coronavirus infection pleads with the doctor to allow her to return home as she has to look after her children. The doctor tells her about the virus and explains why it is best for her family if she returned home only after she was totally cured. The woman is satisfied and says she will abide the norms.

This conversation played on Thursday at the inauguration of a telemedicine studio set up at Circuit House to help patients undergoing treatment at the various Covid care centres of the district.

It is equipped with three computers and a high-speed internet connectivity so that doctors can advise patients at all the seven Covid treatment facilities, together accounting for as many as 775 beds.

Separate time slots and doctors have been allotted for patients of all the seven treatment facilities.

The centre is under the supervision of Dr Apurba Gupta, who is the nodal officer. After consultations, the centre emails medical records of each patient to the respective Covid treatment centre. These can be shared with doctors during future consultations.

During Thursday’s inaugural, Dr P. P. Pandey attended to patients of Regional Hospital-Bhuli, while Dr Naresh Prasad and Dr Munshi Prasad Saha provided medical advice to patients of Zonal Training Institute of the railways and Nirsa Polytechnic Institute, respectively.

Dr Asha Rosaline Kujur, one of doctors at the telemedicine studio, said, “Besides providing medical advice, doctors are also carrying out psychological counselling of patients. This helps dispel any apprehensions about the virus and ultimately facilitates early cure.”