The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, on Friday 28th May 2010, with Jabir Bin Hayyan Trust (JBHT), Islamabad, to provide tele-health services in Skardu city and other areas where the latter maintains its presence through medical examination facilities. The agreement was signed by the Executive Director COMSATS, Dr. Imtinan Elahi Qureshi, and the Managing Trustee JBHT, Sheikh Muhsin Ali Najafi, on behalf of their respective organizations. By virtue of this agreement, JBHT, which has recently taken over the operational management of Abdullah Hospital in Skardu, will facilitate COMSATS in continuing the tele-health services for the marginalized communities of the district and the surrounding areas, by providing medical examination facilities and paramedic staff. Since 2005, COMSATS has been providing tele-health services in the area through a Tele-health Resource Centre established at its Headquarters in Islamabad. Specialist help was provided in the fields of dermatology, gastroenterology, cardiology and general medicine using live internet consultations as well as store and forward method. So far, over 3000 patients have benefited from these tele-consultations.

In order to suitably cater to the healthcare needs of these marginalized communities, both the parties have agreed to collaboratively organize periodic medical camps in Skardu, whereby COMSATS will engage specialist doctors and bear the travel expenses involved, while JBHT will make arrangements for organizing the medical camps and providing the local hospitality to the specialists.