Leveraging Health Information Helpline to Sustain Health-Care Delivery during the COVID Pandemic: Experiences from a State in Eastern India
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Date
2022-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wolters Kluwer – Medknow
Abstract
Background: The unprecedented demands on health‑care systems due to the COVID‑19 pandemic made countries including India to switch toward alternative modes of health‑care delivery. Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the various COVID‑related services delivered through 104 health information helpline (HIHL), located in Jharkhand during the pandemic. Methods: The de‑identified secondary data from February 2020 to December 2021 related to COVID services delivered through HIHL were analyzed. Results: There was a significant increase in the COVID call volume during the first as well as the second wave. The HIHL has been able to guide the callers on testing, home isolation and follow‑up, home‑based teleconsultation, vaccination, timely referral, and support with logistic‑related information. Conclusion: The 104 HIHL has played a critical role in sustaining health‑care delivery during the pandemic, combating the “infodemic” and guiding the general public by providing authentic information.
Description
Keywords
Alternative model of health‑care delivery, COVID‑19, health information helpline, Jharkhand, pandemic
Citation
Nawaz AS, Singh BP, Singh AK, Mukherjee C, Rathnam N, Hegde SK.. Leveraging Health Information Helpline to Sustain Health-Care Delivery during the COVID Pandemic: Experiences from a State in Eastern India. Indian Journal of Public Health. 2023 Mar; 67(1): 28-34