SIMS Hospital Unveils India’s First 24×7 Digital Medical Bus for Rural Communities

The initiative also includes an AI-powered chatbot that supports patient engagement by offering guided assistance, appointment support, and access to verified health information.

SIMS Hospital, Chennai, has unveiled SIMS Hello Doctor – Health on Wheels, a 24×7 digital medical bus, aimed at extending essential medical services, preventive care, and specialist teleconsultations to rural and underserved communities without the need for hospital visits.

By integrating digital systems with on-ground medical services, the SIMS digital medical bus enables end-to-end patient care that remains fully paperless, covering registration, consultation, diagnostics, referrals, and follow-up care in a single workflow.

Dr Ravi Pachamuthu, Chairman, SRM Group, said, “At SIMS Hospital, our vision has always been to go beyond hospital walls and reach patients where they need us the most. SIMS Hello Doctor – Health on Wheels reflects our commitment to preventive healthcare, early intervention, and technology-driven care. This 24×7 mobile healthcare service will not only improve health outcomes but also empower communities with awareness and timely medical guidance.”

The digital medical bus offers on-the-spot consultations, health screenings, vaccinations, and basic diagnostic services, backed by a 24/7 medical team. Patients also have access to real-time teleconsultations with specialists and super-specialists, enabling the remote review of complex cases without the need for travel to tertiary hospitals.

Preventive health check-ups are a core component of the service, supporting early risk identification and timely intervention, particularly for non-communicable diseases that often go undiagnosed in rural settings.

As part of its operations, SIMS Hello Doctor – Health on Wheels will conduct targeted health screenings and check-ups across rural communities, schools, colleges, and industrial establishments.

The initiative also includes an AI-powered chatbot that supports patient engagement by offering guided assistance, appointment support, and access to verified health information, helping users navigate care more efficiently.

Thiru. Ma. Subramanian, Hon’ble Minister for Health & Medical Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, said, “Initiatives such as Hello Doctor Health on Wheels play an important role in strengthening the public healthcare ecosystem by ensuring that medical services reach people where they live. This step signifies the future of healthcare—one that is inclusive, preventive, and accessible. I appreciate SIMS Hospital for taking this forward towards community well-being.”

Under the Mission SIMS VILLAGE framework, the hospital plans to identify and serve villages through the digital medical bus to ensure sustained access to preventive, diagnostic, and consultative healthcare services. The programme aims to strengthen grassroots healthcare delivery by combining physical outreach with digital continuity of care.

Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News