Medical help to remote regions of Russia via satcom equipped trains
Satellite communications plays a crucial role in providing healthcare by means of telemedicine for remote regions of Russia
In October 2006, President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin was in Kourgan, Russia, to test out the video conferencing facilities onboard an innovative ‘medical train’, one of two which has been introduced by the company ‘Russian Railroads’ to provide expert health care to the people of the far flung regions of Russia.
These mobile medical centres consist of eight carriages, six of which are filled with the most up-to-date medical equipment, one of which is fitted with satellite communications terminals from Thrane & Thrane. This equipment, alongside a Tandberg videoconferencing terminal, enables the staff on the train to communicate directly with doctors, surgeons and specialists from leading medical clinics of Russia, Europe and America.
The ability for staff to contact medical experts enables the patients to receive the very best medical care and advice, without having to travel from their home. This is a very important factor in the case of a serious illness where a long journey could make the illness worse. At present the telemedical technology may also be successfully applied to render first medical aid in cases of emergency. Telemedical equipment and satellite communication make it possible for medical teams to get the necessary professional assistance on the road, while a hospital may get prepared in advance to accept a patient.
Currently, two medical trains operate in the most remote settlements of the Khabarovsk and Prymorskiy regions, Republic of Sakha, Amourskaya district and the difficult to access regions of the Far North of Russia. The Russian President was given an insight into the entire operation of the trains, from registration to diagnostics, on his visit to Kourgan. He participated in a video conference with specialist doctors from the Moscow Central Clinical Hospital, during a consultation with a young girl suffering from heart disease.
The satcom aspect of the telemedical systems was created by the Russian company REARM Division, a Thrane & Thrane distributor. Each train was equipped with two Nera WorldCommunicator Voyagers. These mobile Inmarsat satellite communication terminals with self-guided antennas allow for the telemedical communication to work both during stops and in motion.