Maritime medical operations and healthcare solutions provider, VIKAND has become a certified Inmarsat application provider.
The company is to launch the first all-inclusive total healthcare solution platform for the global shipping industry.
VIKAND patented HealthNet integrates all aspects of healthcare and medical operations for vessel owners and operators, using the latest satellite communication tools and medical technology, supported by an experienced maritime medical team.
HealthNet’s telemedicine technology is claimed to be easy to use and very affordable requiring limited bandwidth.
The solution will cover all aspects of the vessel owners’ ongoing healthcare needs including urgent care, monthly house doctor calls, chronic disease management, crew maintenance and crew loss prevention = crew wellness, medical chest management, medical equipment technical support, a customised mental health program and a 24/7 medical emergency support hot-line.
By managing the entire healthcare needs, the owners’ cost will be reduced, risk management and efficiency enhanced with an overall winning ROI, the company said.
HealthNet will be launched in the first quarter of 2020 and will be an Inmarsat certified application providing the service over a dedicated bandwidth APN on Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress service.
Prior to the official launch, trials will be conducted on a selection of ships equipped with Fleet Xpress.
“By providing this application we will offer a unique opportunity to provide global seafarers all over the world easy access to healthcare, focusing on early intervention, a key in healthcare not available on board ships today.
“This will ensure a much safer and healthier environment on board offering our seafarers an opportunity to leave the ship healthier than when they joined. Our shared vision for our partnership is to ensure a healthier environment on board ships, early intervention when seafarers are not well and a rapid support system in the event of an emergency, utilising the communication strength of Inmarsat. This is a perfect combination of technology driving value,” said Peter Hult, VIKAND CEO.
“We are delighted that VIKAND will become a certified application provider for our dedicated bandwidth service over Fleet Xpress,” said Marco Cristoforo Camporeale, Head of Digital Solutions, Inmarsat Maritime. “This partnership will help save lives at sea by helping diagnose medical problems quicker and allowing companies to respond earlier in case of medical emergencies.
“As part of our new suite of maritime digital solutions, our dedicated bandwidth services are available across either our Fleet Xpress or FleetBroadband networks and are designed specifically for applications, such as VIKAND Health Net that need direct access to the vessel and cannot be constrained or interrupted by crew or operational traffic,” Camporeale explained.
Recently, the company was appointed by FTI Cruises, as the medical consultant for the cruise ship ‘Berlin’, effective 1st October, 2019.
VIKAND is now providing the on board medical team with 24/7 medical support, an emergency hotline, staffing and recruitment, regulatory compliance, policies and procedures, outbreak prevention support, pharmaceutical management, biomedical equipment maintenance, pre-employment medical examination review, crew wellness as well as chronic disease oversight.