Dr Vijay Patil

India is at the cusp of a digital health transformation that could spur the country’s economic growth. Telehealth, a relatively new concept, makes quality healthcare accessible to all with a near-zero contagion risk. It allows patients to consult a doctor via audio/ video chat using communication channels like a laptop, smartphone, and wireless technology. During the Covid-19 pandemic, telehealth emerged as a lifesaver for hospitals, doctors, nurses, and patients. It made virtual diagnosis a reality and provided the same quality of care services to patients without increasing the spread of the coronavirus.

Telehealth allows online prescriptions of medicines and remote care for patients. As a result, it enables the three A’s of healthcare – Affordability, Accessibility, and Accreditation. Before the pandemic, telehealth services were limited to ad hoc services with many restrictions. Their objective was to support rural and underserved patients by providing access to specialists when local help was severely limited. However, in the post-pandemic era, telehealth is expected to grow exponentially. In India, the telehealth market is expected to grow to USD 5.4 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 31 per cent. Some reasons for its growing demand include timely advice, a fast exchange of patient information, and last-mile connectivity with patients.

Telehealth helps overcome India’s healthcare challenges

In India, healthcare infrastructure is heavily skewed in favour of urban areas, even when 65 per cent of the country’s population resides in rural areas. Telehealth has the potential to provide quality healthcare to everyone. Furthermore, with the Union Budget 2021 allocating INR 2.23 lakh crore to healthcare, the sector is on its way to creating path breaking records.

Many states are making efforts toward public health, sanitation, and access to primary healthcare. They want to make sure that basic medical facilities are available to the masses. However, constraints like poor infrastructure, lack of locational access, awareness, budgets, and trained staff restrict growth. The rise of telehealth with unprecedented digital transformation is a response to such public health concerns. It is poised to usher in a new era, aligned with the government’s Digital India initiative.

The telehealth market encompasses telemedicine, tele-ICU, mobile health, online pharmacies, diagnostic services, etc. It allows doctors to provide consultations and write prescriptions over a phone call. As a result, it spreads awareness and reduces the load on hospitals.

The service also makes sure a clear differentiation between critical and non-critical ailments. Non-critical patients can opt for expert opinion from their homes, whereas critical ones must visit the hospitals. An important benefit of this demarcation is the avoidance of unnecessary burdens on hospital staff. It also saves commuting time for the patients as they have access to instant care from the comforts of their homes.

Telehealth helps in fighting the problem of shortage of hospital beds by eliminating the need for in-patient care or hospitalisation. Teleconsultation is sufficient and helpful, provided the patient is not critical.

Another aspect where telehealth has made an impact in the lives of Indians is inequity and lack of healthcare services for rural women. It is often observed that rural women shy away from using basic medical care for themselves. A portable telemedicine kit or teleconsultation can help in curing health conditions on the go and enhancing healthcare.

Key Challenges

While the telehealth market is expected to grow in the coming years, it is also beset by challenges. The first key challenge pertains to technology incompatibilities and the correctness of patient data. The fluctuating results from different technology tools can result in inconsistencies in health outcomes. Moreover, there can be system security concerns emerging from patient-provider confidentiality.

The second challenge is data security with the digitisation of health records. This patient data is read across devices, making confidential information vulnerable. For instance, it is unethical and illegal to gather data from individual devices such as blood sugar detectors, digital thermometers, heart rate monitors, etc., without the concerned individual’s consent in an emergency setup. Moreover, decentralisation of patient data across different telehealth service providers results in a lack of interoperability, making governance even more challenging.

Ending Notes

India is all geared up to usher in a new healthcare paradigm that will transform lives for the better. Telehealth not only adds convenience to the patient’s life but also has many additional benefits, including improved access to healthcare, improved public health, reduced pressure on the healthcare workforce, and a reduction in financial stress.

Views expressed by Dr Vijay Patil, President, DY Patil Hospital and Research Centre.

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