AP: 104 COVID Helpline For Tele-consultation With Doctors Receives Huge Response

VIJAYAWADA: In the last week, 3,567 doctors and 608 specialists in Andhra Pradesh have registered for a 104-doctor tele-consultation service to help treat people with COVID symptoms during the second wave of the Corona pandemic.

In the last 20 days itself, the 104 helpline has received over 1,45,121 calls.

On the response system, nodal officer Babu Ahmed, who is in charge of the 104 call centre operations, said, “We receive calls 24/7 for testing, treatment, vaccine, and hospital allotment. We were able to admit around 22,877 patients to nearby hospitals in the last month.

In addition, we have around 3,567 doctors registered over the last week, with 608 specialist doctors added to the facility to offer quick responses and solutions as regards bed, testing, or treatment within three hours. These doctors will be linked to the patients of incoming calls from 104.”

People inquiring about testing, vaccination, and test results will be directed to the executive level, according to Babu Ahmed. Doctors are in charge of people who have symptoms that need consultation.

He said, “We have been providing training on Covid protocols to all doctors along with providing them 104 tele-consultation mobile applications.”

Babu Ahmed mentioned that this would be a constant effort to reach out to as many people as possible and that the team is working 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“In addition to this, we would like to decrease the pressure on the hospital in charges. Currently, we have 1.2 lakh people under home isolation with mild symptoms. To these patients, we are also ensuring to make outgoing calls and connecting them to the available doctors.”

“This way, the patients who are home-isolated are able to get a better picture in tackling the virus themselves at home. Medicines and treatment that the doctors are prescribing through tele-consultation bring down the undue pressure on hospitals,” he said.

According to Babu Ahmed, the AP government, led by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is strengthening the 104 helpline system and ensuring that citizens receive the assistance they need.

The 104 helpline number, which is available 24 hours a day, has become a one-stop-shop for all Covid-19-related issues in the state.