This New York Times article by Heather Timmons on Apollo Hospital announces the opening of three nurse operated clinic featuring PC video links to Doctors within the offices of Equitas – a for-profit microfinance company.

The services are available for scheduled appointments to “women who take loans through Equitas and their families” and cost less than $1 each which includes a nurse “measuring vital signs like blood pressure and heartbeat through equipment that transmits readings directly to the doctor and into a patient’s computerized medical file” and an advice video call over Skype from a Doctor.

In the comments “MD” suggests it’s a “great idea not only for India but health care even in developed world” before suggesting that “liability issues and protective medical societies may not allow these innovations“.

I’m thinking it won’t take off for several much more obvious reasons…