DW BUREAU / Chandigarh Telemedicine has proven to be a boon for patients in rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic, and as many as 32000 patients in rural Punjab including areas adjoining Chandigarh have benefitted so far under a pioneering project - 'Strengthening Management of Hypertension Services Project' (SMHSP). The first of its kind project was launched by the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health (DCM & SPH), PGIMER a year ago. The first-year report card of the innovative project was shared by those behind the project and senior doctors from PGIMER on the anniversary of 'SMHSP' during a press conference held at Press Club, here . A beneficiary of telemedicine too was present. Dr Sonu Goel, Professor at DCM & SPH, & Principal Investigator, SMHSP said, "The aim of the project is to provide technical support to Punjab government's initiative e-sanjeevani - a telemedicine OPD portal, to mitigate the rising health care challenges in the unprecedented times of COVID-19 pandemic. Strengthening & empowering health and wellness centres in this belt, eliminating trans-fat from food cycle etc were also undertaken as part of the project." Dr Areet Kaur, Director, National Health Mission, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Punjab, said, "Capacity building of community health workers(CHWs') and community health officers(CHOs') was done. Screening of non communicable diseases (NCD) was done at HWCs' by CHOs'. After screening CHOs' connected to the doctors at the hub for teleconsultation through e sanjeevani software to initiate the treatment and provide free medicines at the HWC itself." (editor@dailyworld.in)