Health ATMs in city need intensive care

Lucknow: The state capital had to be equipped with health ATMs at every 2-3km to provide basic healthcare facilities to people, but the Lucknow Smart City Limited (LSCL) has failed to ensure proper functioning of machines even eight months after the expiry of deadline.

These ATMs were to provide about 40 testing facilities, including ECG, lipid profile, blood glucose, diabetes, HIV, haemoglobin, pregnancy test, urine (10 parameters), typhoid, malaria, and dengue. However, these ATMs are providing only general body check-up and teleconsultation with doctors from SGPGIMS. A reality check by TOI revealed that while most of these ATMs were closed.

Areas where ATMs have been installed include Aliganj, Sarojininagar, Daliganj, Vikasnagar, Indiranagar, Suggamau, Paper Mill Colony, Rajajipuram and Chhitwapur.

According to residents of Aliganj and Paper Mill Colony, health ATMs were installed in their areas but many were were not functional. "Neither do attendants show up nor do people visit these ATMs. The facilities that these machines provide are also available at home," a resident said.

Himanshu Shukla, who mans the health ATM at the Rumi Gate said, "The daily count of patients differs. Sometimes 4-5 persons visit and at times not a single person comes to us. We offer primary tests and consultation is done through video calling. Generally, blood pressure patients and those with skin diseases visit us. We are not authorised to provide medicines."

General manager, LSCL, SK Jain said, "All health ATMs are operational. We are monitoring health ATMs through Integrated Control and Command Centre."