These will be in the area of telemedicine with online consultation with specialists in Apollo Hospital for a second opinion. More details will be announced four weeks down the line, said AHEL Chairman Prathap C Reddy, during the inauguration of the first online neighbourhood clinic in Chennai.

The neighbourhood clinic is expected to be a model for the franchised network to be set up, though this one is owned by Apollo. The clinic in rented premises has investments to the tune of Rs 1 crore not including the backup facilities like the ambulance etc. Essentially this clinic is aimed at the family and handles geriatrics, paediatrics, cardiology, diabetology, ENT, obstetrics, plastic and cosmetic surgery, chest medicine, ophthalmology, hepatology etc.

The facility will conduct seminars on health for registered members. The registration fee is Rs 350 for senior citizens who will have doctors visiting their homes on a quarterly basis doing regular tests and collecting blood samples where necessary. Medicines above purchases of Rs 300 will be home delivered. Registration fee for others is Rs 250.

The Apollo Cliniq as it is called is also offering online facilities, where test results can be accessed at home using a password, and where appointments with doctors can be made over the net as also medicine purchases.

The Cliniq offers state of art diagnostic facilities, 24 hour emergency care and pharmacy, preventive health checks, lifestyle management programmes/schemes, e-health. This model is expected to be followed by franchisees too. The group has also constructed a 50 bed charity hospital in Reddy's hometown Aragonda near Chittoor which is again backed by telemedicine. Barring heart surgery this facility has got almost all other specialities.

The hospital is slated for inauguration next month.