More than 2 lakh Jharkhand residents have consulted doctors via audio and video calls through the 104 helpline number launched by the state government for providing free online medical assistance related to Covid-19 since the pandemic made it difficult for patients to meet doctors in person, data compiled by the health department highlights.

As per data with the National Health Mission (NHM), at least 1,87,525 people consulted doctors over audio calls while 23,995 residents spoke to doctors via video calls for health issues related to Covid-19.

“Most of these callers were suffering from Covid-19 and were in home isolation,” said Dr Bhuvnesh Pratap Singh, the nodal officer of the 104 helpline service in Jharkhand.

Besides patients, those not infected by the coronavirus can also make calls on the helpline and seek details about bed availability, vaccination slots and register complaints if the required facilities are not provided at any of the government hospitals, an executive working for the helpline said on Tuesday.

“We also provided online counselling to people dealing with mental health issues as a result of the pandemic and lockdown,” said the executive, who did not wish to be named citing rules. “We received at least 9,500 distress calls from people suffering from anxiety or depression since March 2020. Many of these callers were either suffering from Covid-19 or had patients at home or in the neighborhood,” he added.

The 104 helpline was prompt in responding to callers and addressing their problems. An executive received a phone call made by The Telegraph Online on the helpline number on Tuesday and sought details such as age, district and locality of the caller. The correspondent received a call from a representative of the helpline within the next five minutes.

The helpline number was launched in 2014 by the state government. However, it was strengthened after Covid-19 hit Jharkhand in March 2020, officials said.

As per government data, around 3.31 lakh people have been infected by the virus in Jharkhand so far and the helpline has received Covid related calls from more than 2 lakh residents.

The government was not only providing online consultation to patients in home isolation, but also supplying home isolation kits to them. As per government data, the state has provided 84,921 home isolation kits to Covid patients in Jharkhand since the entry of the virus in the state.