Access to medical care is a moral human right and it becomes an obligation to provide health services to all people even in remote and rural areas where services might be unavailable.
Telemedicine is the solution….
As per WHO “The delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities”
The activities related to telemedicine started in 1999 in India, though the government recognized the potential of telemedicine in the year 2000. The Indian Space Research Organization deployed the first nation-wide SATCOM-based telemedicine network in 2001. The below figure shows the basic infrastructure.
Scope of Telemedicine in India
In India, 68% of the population resides in a rural area where the health care services are minimal and telemedicine can close the gap by overcoming distance barriers through joint efforts of government and private healthcare institutions.
Telemedicine market in India
The telemedicine market in India was approximately 450 million U.S. dollars in 2016.
Benefits of Telemedicine
Telemedicine has made it possible for a health care provider to virtually visit a patient.
For Patients
Immediate access to Health care specialists
Convenience to the patient
Saves time traveling
No need to take leave from work
Good patient engagement and improved quality of care delivery
Cost-Effective
Good for Immunity: Fewer chances to catch an infection from the hospital visit
For Service Providers (Physicians)
Better Decision Making
Analysis of stored data increases the practice efficiency
Better follow up of a patient
Can get a second opinion immediately for better diagnosis and management
Revenue is increased by reaching out to many patients.
Saves time
A physician can see many patients
Can make informed decisions if the in-clinic visit is required or not
Overall, Telemedicine is emerging as a promising tool for better health delivery for primary care and secondary care.
Challenges of telemedicine in India
Implementing telemedicine needs good infrastructure and faces issues such as
Ignorance and lack of awareness
Rural India lacks basic infrastructure
Language & communication issues
Acceptance for both doctors and patients will be a challenge
Lack of regulations by the government
Is telemedicine the future of medicine?
The rapid advancement in technology will help to achieve the goals of providing accessible, quality & cost-effective health services to everyone. Studies have documented how telemedicine has helped patients get affordable clinical care at home.
The Ayushman Bharat Scheme by the Indian government is encouraging telemedicine for the development of the health sector in the country.
