Patna: Health minister Nishant Kumar on Wednesday directed officials to integrate the patient referral system with technology and bring the 102 and 108 ambulance services under a unified emergency network to ensure faster treatment for critical patients.Reviewing the state’s referral system, telemedicine and technology-enabled healthcare services at the State Health Society, the minister said real-time information on hospital bed availability should be made accessible through a central dashboard. According to an official press release, ambulances handling emergency referrals will be equipped to record patients’ vital parameters and transmit the information to a control centre.PMCH, AIIMS-Patna, NMCH and IGIMS have been selected for a pilot project. Ambulances will have kiosks providing real-time information on bed availability at govt hospitals, while patients’ locations will be shared with receiving hospitals to facilitate quicker referrals.Nishant also reviewed the 104 helpline and telemedicine services and asked officials to explore their integration with e-Sanjeevani. He stressed the wider use of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse patient data and support healthcare decisions.Officials were directed to integrate AI, telemedicine, smart ambulances and referral services to ensure that patients reach the appropriate hospital and specialist without delay.Meanwhile, health secretary-cum-food safety commissioner Kumar Ravi reviewed the state’s food safety arrangements on Wednesday. He directed officials to intensify inspections of hotels, restaurants, caterers, dairy units and edible oil establishments and take strict action against those found involved in adulteration.Ravi stressed that inspections and enforcement should go beyond paperwork and directed officials to upload inspection reports on the FoSCoS portal.Nine more dengue cases reportedNine new dengue cases were reported in Patna on Wednesday, taking the district’s tally to 213, officials said. A man in his 20s died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kankarbagh on Tuesday evening. However, the health department did not confirm whether the death was due to dengue.
