Telemedicine services to Gulf NRBs soon
Sunday, 23 November 2008
FE Report
A local call centre said Friday it will provide healthcare services to at least 4.5 million non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) living in different countries in the Gulf region by March next.
Dhaka-based Telemedicine Reference Centre Limited has taken the step to provide healthcare services to the NRBs as the expatriates face problem to get treatment due mainly to language problem.
Besides, foreign workers living for the middle-eastern countries have limited access to hospitals and they lack proper information about better healthcare services, the company said.
Dr Sikder M Zakir, managing director of Telemedicine Reference Centre Limited told the FE that his company would formally launch the unique service in March next in Dhaka. The NRBs working in the gulf region will get medical advices through phone calls.
Bangladeshi expatriates need only a call. They need not to pay other charge for the service, company officials said.
Doctors will be there at the help desk in Dhaka to attend such calls and give advice.
Dr Zakir, who is also pioneer in providing medical services through GrameenPhone (GP) call centre told the FE that his company is transferring the technology and operational know-how to neighbouring countries.
Karachi-based Phone Cast Private Limited has already signed agreement with the local company to get technical aspects of the services in exchange for monthly royalty.
Another leading call centre from India is likely to sign deal with the company in this regard shortly, company officials claim.
Dr Zakir claimed that a total of 11 million workers, both skilled and semi-skilled, of Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh will get same services from March.
"We are giving fast services to the Karachi-based company and we will complete procedures to give technical support to Indian company by March as we want to launch the programme simultaneously," he added.
A local call centre said Friday it will provide healthcare services to at least 4.5 million non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) living in different countries in the Gulf region by March next.
Dhaka-based Telemedicine Reference Centre Limited has taken the step to provide healthcare services to the NRBs as the expatriates face problem to get treatment due mainly to language problem.
Besides, foreign workers living for the middle-eastern countries have limited access to hospitals and they lack proper information about better healthcare services, the company said.
Dr Sikder M Zakir, managing director of Telemedicine Reference Centre Limited told the FE that his company would formally launch the unique service in March next in Dhaka. The NRBs working in the gulf region will get medical advices through phone calls.
Bangladeshi expatriates need only a call. They need not to pay other charge for the service, company officials said.
Doctors will be there at the help desk in Dhaka to attend such calls and give advice.
Dr Zakir, who is also pioneer in providing medical services through GrameenPhone (GP) call centre told the FE that his company is transferring the technology and operational know-how to neighbouring countries.
Karachi-based Phone Cast Private Limited has already signed agreement with the local company to get technical aspects of the services in exchange for monthly royalty.
Another leading call centre from India is likely to sign deal with the company in this regard shortly, company officials claim.
Dr Zakir claimed that a total of 11 million workers, both skilled and semi-skilled, of Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh will get same services from March.
"We are giving fast services to the Karachi-based company and we will complete procedures to give technical support to Indian company by March as we want to launch the programme simultaneously," he added.