10-12 December, 2003. The RSCC presentation of a pilot mobile telemedicine laboratory on the WSIS in Geneva

08.12 : 2003

Today close international cooperation is required to resolve global crises in healthcare system. On 2003 G8 Summit, the President of the Russian Federation - V. Putin came forward with an initiative in the use of telemedicine technologies to fight epidemics in developing countries. Taking into account the statement of the President, a pilot mobile telemedicine laboratory has been developed and presented by RSCC and Vitanet Joint-stock Co. (the RSCC subsidiary) in close collaboration with Russian Research Institute of Physiopulmonology, Institute of Parasiotology and Tropical Medicine, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology. The laboratory is a baseline component of telemedicine system to fight AIDS, tuberculoses and malaria in developing countries.

The System of telemedicine satellite network is a range of medical, telecommunication and organizational solutions to diagnose disease cases at the initial stage. The system provides broad strata of the population with effective medical services in a way of distant consultations with leading medical experts of the best healthcare institutions both inside and outside any country via advanced computer technologies.

The Government of Kenya accepted the similar project tailored by the Russian specialists and the experts of International Telecommunications Union (ITU). RSCC is currently involved in the deployment of telemedicine network in China. The first three telemedicine centers have been recently put into operation in the Republic of Chuvashiya enabling to hold on-line tele-consultations via RSCC satellites between the Republic and Federal District.

The telemedicine network is a 4-level telecommunications infrastructure, which includes national telemedicine center, regional telemedicine centers, mobile telemedicine centers, diagnostic laboratories and VSAT network connecting the above.

The mobile telemedicine laboratory is designed for mass examination of the population outside hospitals. The medical equipment of the laboratory enables to perform various examinations, including X-ray of thorax under low radiation conditions, and express-diagnostics as well. The range of medical examinations could be increased as required.

The mobile telemedicine laboratory includes VSAT station, GPS, operator's automated position, telemedicine terminal, laboratory equipment, refrigerator to keep medications and laboratory test-systems, independent petrol generator, air conditioning, WC and etc. Such laboratories may be mounted on front-driven or rear-driven KAMAZ vehicles.

The mobile telemedicine laboratory is for long-term travels, therefore it is supplied with drinking water stocks, fuel, consumable medical materials, medications, reagents.

For the first time, it is expected to present a pilot mobile telemedicine laboratory on the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva, 10 -12 December 2003. The presentation will confirm the initiative of the Russian Federation in the use of telemedicine technologies to aid the countries of Africa.