Moscow Region AI health robot Svetlana has handled over 32.3 million calls since 2022
In short
The Moscow Region's AI voice assistant Svetlana (Светлана), used to call doctors to the home and book appointments, has handled more than 32.3 million calls since its launch in 2022, the regional health ministry's press service said. About 5.5 million of those calls came since the start of this year, according to regional health minister Maksim Zabelin (Максим Забелин), and the robot can take up to 600 calls at once.
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The Moscow Region's AI voice assistant, the robot Svetlana (Светлана), has handled more than 32.3 million calls since it was launched in 2022, the press service of the Moscow Region Ministry of Health said, as reported by RIA Novosti. TASS and iXBT carried the same figure. About 5.5 million of those calls were made since the start of this year, said Maksim Zabelin (Максим Забелин), deputy chairman of the Moscow Region government and the region's health minister, as quoted by the press service. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Residents of the region can use the robot to call a doctor to the home, book an appointment with a specialist, or cancel or reschedule an appointment. The service also reminds patients of upcoming doctor visits and offers to renew an electronic prescription for a subsidised medicine through a telemedicine consultation, the ministry's press service said. [ 2 , 3 ]
"Robot Svetlana makes medical care in the Moscow Region more accessible: the service works around the clock and without days off. If a situation requires the involvement of a specialist, the call is transferred to an operator," Zabelin said, according to the press service. The robot can take up to 600 calls at the same time, according to RIA Novosti and iXBT. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to RIA Novosti, residents can also book a doctor's appointment through the chatbot Denis (Денис) in the Max (Макс) messenger, on the regional public services portal Zdorovye (Здоровье), or in the Dobrodel Zdorovye (Добродел Здоровье) app. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The figures, released by the regional health ministry, show how many calls about doctor visits and appointments in the Moscow Region are handled by an AI voice assistant. According to the minister, calls that require a specialist are transferred to an operator.
Key facts
- The robot Svetlana has handled more than 32.3 million calls. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Svetlana was launched in 2022. [ 2 , 3 ]
- About 5.5 million of the calls came since the start of this year, according to Maksim Zabelin. [ 2 ]
- The robot can take up to 600 calls at the same time. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The service works around the clock, without days off. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Residents can use it to call a doctor to the home, book an appointment with a specialist, or cancel or reschedule an appointment. [ 2 , 3 ]
- If a situation requires a specialist, the call is transferred to an operator, Zabelin said. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- How many calls were transferred from the robot to human operators. The documents say such transfers happen but give no figure.
- About 5.5 million calls since the start of this year. Only RIA Novosti, quoting the minister via the press service, gives this figure.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- 8 October: TASS reports that the Moscow Region health ministry's robot has handled more than 32.3 million calls. [ 1 ]
- 8 October: RIA Novosti publishes the ministry's figures and a quote from minister Maksim Zabelin. [ 2 ]
- 9 October: iXBT reports the robot's 600-call capacity and total of more than 32.3 million calls. [ 3 ]