A 45-year-old man from a rural area dials the national telemedicine helpline . He speaks to a doctor, receives medical advice, and is even given a prescription on call without visiting the hospital. This service is provided under which government initiative?

1. A

   Nikshay Poshan Yojana

2. B

   eSanjeevani (Telemedicine Service)

3. C

   Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK)

4. D

   Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY

Appeared in: NORCET 9 Prelims-2025

Explanation

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• The scenario describes a classic case of telemedicine, where a patient receives medical consultation and a prescription remotely.
• eSanjeevani is the Government of India's national telemedicine service, designed to provide healthcare services to citizens in their homes, especially in rural and remote areas.
• The service allows for patient-to-doctor tele-consultations, which matches the situation described in the question perfectly.
• The initiative aims to bridge the urban-rural healthcare divide by leveraging technology, as confirmed by government reports and guidelines.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: Nikshay Poshan Yojana is a direct benefit transfer scheme providing nutritional support to Tuberculosis (TB) patients. It is not a telemedicine consultation service.
• Option C: Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) focuses on providing free and cashless services to pregnant women and sick newborns, aiming to reduce maternal and infant mortality. It does not cover general telemedicine for adults.
• Option D: Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY is a health insurance scheme that provides a financial cover of up to Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization. It does not provide primary outpatient consultations via telemedicine.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Government Health Initiatives in India to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
• Nurses are instrumental in raising awareness about telemedicine. They can educate communities, especially in remote areas, on how to use services like eSanjeevani for non-emergency health issues, thereby improving healthcare access.
• By guiding patients to use telemedicine for follow-ups and minor ailments, nurses can help reduce the burden on overcrowded outpatient departments in hospitals.
• What if? If the patient on the telemedicine call reported symptoms of a medical emergency like chest pain or breathlessness, the correct nursing action would be to advise them to immediately visit the nearest emergency room for an in-person evaluation, as telemedicine is not appropriate for emergencies.

How to Approach the Question

• First, analyze the scenario presented in the question. Identify the key elements: a patient in a rural area, a remote consultation with a doctor via a helpline, and receiving a prescription without a physical visit.
• Recognize that these elements collectively define 'telemedicine' or 'teleconsultation'.
• Next, examine the four options provided and recall or determine the primary purpose of each government initiative.
• Match the core concept from the scenario (telemedicine) with the option that directly relates to it. 'eSanjeevani (Telemedicine Service)' is a direct match.
• Eliminate the other options by confirming their distinct goals: Nikshay Poshan Yojana (TB nutrition), JSSK (maternal and child health), and PMJAY (hospitalization insurance).

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Government Health Initiatives in India
• Stem keywords: telemedicine helpline, rural area, medical advice, prescription on call, government initiative
• Lead-in keywords: which government initiative
• Clinical cues: The patient's location in a 'rural area' and receiving care 'without visiting the hospital' are key indicators of a telemedicine service.

Question ID

QLiJtWmof8Ou5ZlEJCSVHj

Copy ID

Reference Book

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 139-141