A meeting in Srinagar in June of the Task Force on Health Sector Reforms advocated the expansion of telemedecine into Ladakh, specifically, Leh, Kargil and Zanskar. Telemedecine - the delivery of health-related services and information using telecommunications technologies (video conferencing etc.) would potentially revolutionise treatment in Zanskar, although one cannot help but ask whether communications in Zanskar are reliable for such a system to operate. Saying that, the broadband speed in Padum is faster than my connection in the UK...

Perhaps even more fundamental is that telemedicine in Zanskar may well require the complete overhaul of Padum's basic medical facilities. Unfortunately ideas once again appear to exceed the capacity of the existing infrastructure, although, if the scheme prompts the improvement of medical facilities in Padum, so much the better.

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