Washington: A prominent American university has offered Indian doctors access to its medical expertise through telemedicine, with an objective of improving care for patients. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) has entered into an agreement with Bangalore-based TeleChikitsa Ventures, under which through advanced, web-based technology, the American physicians specialising in oncology, pulmonology, colorectal surgery and other specialties will provide second opinions to their counterparts in India.

Using secure telemedicine applications, developed in part at UPMC's Technology Development Center, the physicians can share patient records and images and consult to their Indian counterparts within 48 hours, a university statement said."UPMC's leadership in medicine and technology enables us to improve access to world-class care for patients throughout India," said Puneet Gurnani, president and chief executive of TeleChikitsa. "With just six doctors for every 10,000 people in India, innovative partnerships like this--which take advantage of rapidly spreading mobile networks--will be critical to ensuring a strong and healthy population in the years to come," he said.

"Through advances in telemedicine, UPMC physicians without leaving their offices can share their life-saving expertise with people almost anywhere in the world, regardless of time or distance," said Andrew Watson, chief medical information officer for UPMC's International and Commercial Services Division. "The result is a better, more efficient and more convenient health care system that better serves patients, no matter where they live," he added. This is UPMC's second agreement in India, where it has already assisted Citizens Hospital in Hyderabad with the creation of a clinical pathology laboratory. Besides India, UPMC telemedicine services are available in China, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Colombia, Mexico, Ireland and Italy.