MYSORE: Students of diploma in hearing, language and speech of 10 remote centres of the All India Speech and Hearing (AIISH) located in different parts of the country, is now connected to AIISH digital library, which comprises 62 international journals, 138 e-books, international databases and access to National Media Library through the internet.

Ministry of health and family welfare additional secretary Keshav Desiraju inaugurated the network link between AIISH (Mysore) and its 10 remote centres here in AIISH premises on Friday.

This will facilitate students of AIISH centres, who can now on watch live clinical activities performed in AIISH (Mysore), from their respective places. The network works on ITALC software which has been installed in all centres, explained Ajish K Abraham, reader and head of department of electronics, AIISH.

This network link between centres will not only help students for their academics, but it will also help the public, since professionals sitting at AIISH campus here can operate equipment of the 10 centres and provide tele-rehabilitation and tele-diagnosis services to people.

Keshav Desiraju said unfortunately, there are only a few institutes like AIISH in the country. The network link to remote centres is an excellent concept and this linkage facility should be upgraded with more intensity for better quality of work. All the institutions should recognize its benefits, he said.

Meanwhile, Union additional director general of health services, B D Athani said students in remote areas can enjoy network link facility. In the years to come, it will play a significant role in the field of telemedicine. "We have shortage of manpower but a concept like this signifies the success of science. Hence, more concepts like this should come up to train health care professions to provide better health service to people," he stated.

The 10 remote centres of AIISH include RML in New Delhi, AIIPMR in Mumbai, CSMMU in Lucknow and others. AIISH director Dr Savithri was present.