Ranchi, August 31, 2026: The Jharkhand Health Department has directed officials to implement online appointment and digital payment facilities across the state’s healthcare system within the next 15 days as part of efforts to make health services more accessible and technology-driven.
The directive was issued at a high-level review meeting chaired by Additional Chief Secretary of the Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Department, Ajay Kumar Singh. Officials reviewed the status of the Chief Minister’s Digital Health Mission, Hospital Management Information System (HMIS), ICU systems, CCTV surveillance, dashboards and the Human Resources Information System (HRIS).
Strengthening online services and internet connectivity at hospitals and health centres across the state was a key focus of the meeting.
RIMS system to be reviewed
The meeting also examined the hospital management system developed by C-DAC. Singh directed officials to update the system immediately and asked them to visit Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) to assess its implementation on the ground.
He also said he would visit RIMS himself to review the functioning of digital health services.
For patient convenience, officials were specifically instructed to ensure that online appointments and digital payment facilities are operational within 15 days.
Wi-Fi expansion planned across healthcare facilities
BSNL has been tasked with ensuring Wi-Fi connectivity at medical colleges, district hospitals, subdivision hospitals, community health centres (CHCs) and primary health centres (PHCs) across Jharkhand.
At the PHC level, the target is to increase internet speed from 2 Mbps to 20 Mbps.
BSNL officials informed the meeting that Wi-Fi services had already been activated at 188 CHCs. In Ramgarh district, 20 Mbps connectivity is scheduled to be made operational at all PHCs by September 7.
Where uninterrupted electricity supply remains a challenge, arrangements are also being made to provide up to 48 hours of power backup.
AI-based tele-ECG machine demonstrated
The meeting also featured a demonstration of a compact AI-based tele-ECG machine proposed for deployment at CHC level.
The technology is intended to help generate ECG reports quickly during the critical “golden hour” for cardiac patients. The reports can also be viewed directly by doctors on their mobile phones, according to the information presented at the meeting.
Attendance-linked payment system for NHM staff
Officials also reviewed the HRIS operating through the 104 portal. The Additional Chief Secretary directed that the process of linking monthly attendance recorded on the portal with honorarium payments for contractual NHM employees be completed within the prescribed timeline.
NHM Mission Director Shashi Prakash Jha, Joint Secretary Dinesh Kumar Yadav, and senior officials from C-DAC, BSNL and the State Bank of India attended the meeting.
