Rajasthan's Digital Leap: ERs Ready Before Patients Arrive

Rajasthan has pioneered a digital medical emergency referral system designed to significantly improve patient care during critical early hours. This groundbreaking model allows tertiary hospitals to receive and prepare for patients before their actual arrival. Rajasthan stands as the first state in India to implement this system, where a referred patient's complete medical history is transmitted online to the control room.

A dedicated team of medical experts can then review the reports and ready the necessary treatment. Prepared and tested at Rabindranath Tagore Medical College in Udaipur, the Simplified Emergency Transfer and Urgent Referral (SETU) system has already managed over 3,510 emergency cases across 15 districts.

Principal Medical and Health Secretary Gayatri Rathore stated on August 1, 2026, that SETU acts as a vital digital link between primary and community health centers in rural areas and urban medical colleges. The system efficiently operates using smartphones, QR codes, and a closed user group network, negating the need for substantial new infrastructure investments.

Upon referral by a primary health center physician via the digital app, comprehensive patient data, estimated arrival time, and live GPS tracking are instantly sent to the tertiary hospital. This enables super-specialists to be alerted and intensive care or emergency beds to be reserved before the patient's arrival.

Consequently, a fully prepared medical team can commence life-saving treatment immediately upon the patient's arrival. Furthermore, each patient referred through SETU receives a follow-up call the subsequent day to gather feedback on their treatment and hospital services.