Satyam Computer Services, Ltd. (NYSE: SAY),  a leading global consulting and information technology services provider, announced today that both of its submissions to the 2008 IDG Computerworld Honors Program (CHP) received 21st Century Achievement the top Awards at the Computerworld Honors Program Laureate Medal Ceremony and Gala held at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium here.

The CHP is the longest running global program to honor individuals and organizations that use IT to benefit society.  The Computerworld Honors Program unites Chairmen and CEOs of the world’s foremost information technology companies to recognize the most outstanding user achievements in technology each year. The technology achievements honored by this program are preserved and protected in national archives, and in over 350 universities, museums, and research institutions throughout the world.

Satyam submitted case studies on Byrraju Foundation and the Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI), in the not-for-profit and healthcare categories, respectively. Both organizations are located near Satyam’s headquarters in Hyderabad, India, and both work extensively with the provider.

The Byrraju Foundation was honored for its program to deliver electrocardiograms and tele-cardiology consulting to Indian citizens in rural areas of the country via videoconferencing. This new initiative has already provided thousands of people with fast, high-quality EKG services and cardiology consulting, costing less than $1 per patient. Without this innovation, similar services would cost approximately $25, prohibitive for most rural Indians. Moreover, that does not take into account lost wages and expenses due to travel, which is usually necessary, considering that only 2 percent of Indian doctors are in rural areas.  

 “We are extremely honored to earn this award, and we dedicate it to the hundreds of millions of Indian people who lack access to quality healthcare. This honor inspires us to strive harder to improve the quality of life for poor, rural villagers,” said Byrraju Foundation’s Chief Integrator, Verghese K. Jacob. “Many of the villagers who have benefited from this program had never before been seen by a doctor, Distance, cost and cultural issues often preclude them from receiving necessary care. Fortunately, technology enables rapid administration and evaluation of EKGs, so abnormalities are discovered right away, saving patients’ lives.”

Computerworld recognized EMRI for its Call 108 service, a program based on emergency numbers such as 911 in the United States and 112 in Europe. The service provides end-to-end emergency services (medical, police and fire) to people in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Uttarakhand. It includes free, quality medical treatment via an ever-growing network of ambulances and hospitals. EMRI has been exceptionally successful. It handles more than 1 million calls per year and saves thousands of lives every month. The program is being replicated in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan—three other large Indian states. When services are available in these six states, EMRI will cover a population greater than 300 million with more than 2,000 ambulances, making it the world’s largest integrated emergency services provider. Additionally, EMRI aims to be available across India by 2010.

“At EMRI, recognition we receive for our efforts helps us expand our programs and provide lifesaving services for greater and greater numbers of Indians. As such, we are very pleased to be among the outstanding organizations honored by Computerworld,” said EMRI CEO Venkat Changavalli. “This honor will help us demonstrate our organization’s value all over the country.”

Moreover, for the first time in the CHP’s 20-year history, a company had more than one submission earn the highest honors. Although many global organizations routinely enter numerous case studies, only Satyam has had two entrants earn 21st Century Achievement Awards.

“The Computerworld Honors Program is extremely prestigious, and truly represents some of the greatest IT innovations in the world,” said Satyam Chairman and Founder B. Ramalinga Raju. “As such, we are very proud to have our submissions recognized as the best of the best. It is a powerful affirmation of the extraordinary programs they undertake to save and enhance scores of lives.”

Sourced From: Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide