Sri Vijaya Puram, October 26: A Jarawa child from Baratang Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands received timely specialist medical care through India’s e-Sanjeevani telemedicine platform after developing a high fever and breathing difficulties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, highlighting how remote consultations are extending healthcare access to underserved communities as the national service approaches 50 crore consultations.
Speaking during the latest episode of Mann Ki Baat on October 25, Modi said e-Sanjeevani had facilitated approximately 50 crore teleconsultations nationwide. He cited the platform’s reach in geographically isolated areas as an example of technology helping patients connect with doctors without having to rely solely on locally available medical expertise.
The Prime Minister recounted the case of Oho-Tahane, a child from the Jarawa tribe on Baratang Island. When the child developed a high fever and difficulty breathing, local health workers used e-Sanjeevani to consult a specialist. The doctor diagnosed pneumonia, and the child’s condition improved rapidly following specialist care.
The case illustrates the role of remote medical consultation in connecting frontline health workers in the islands with expert advice, particularly when patients need specialised assessment.
Modi also cited cases from other remote parts of the country. In Kalpeni, Lakshadweep, a 60-year-old man, Kunhi Koya, fell ill suddenly and received assistance through a doctor based in Kavaratti, who guided the local medical team. In Zanskar, Ladakh, Kunjang Dolma received specialist support through the platform after developing pregnancy-related complications.
In Peren, Nagaland, 12-year-old Mushem, who had an ear infection and fever, received a diagnosis and appropriate medication through an e-Sanjeevani consultation.
The Prime Minister linked the platform’s expansion to the growing network of nearly 1.90 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across India. He said these centres were developing into village-level wellness hubs, where residents could access regular health check-ups and preventive services, with telemedicine helping connect them to doctors.
Developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) for the Union Health Ministry, e-Sanjeevani is a free, cloud-based national telemedicine service. It operates through two modes: doctor-to-doctor consultations at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and direct patient-to-doctor consultations from home.
Modi said the adoption of digital services reflected Indians’ willingness to integrate technology into everyday life. He also credited doctors’ efforts and public trust for the platform’s reach, while emphasising the role of telemedicine alongside primary healthcare in serving rural and remote populations.
