Telemedicine is a rapidly growing field in India, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It involves the use of technology to provide remote medical care and consultation. The adoption of telemedicine is steadily and quickly on the rise.
Introduction
Telemedicine is a game-changer in the healthcare industry, especially in India. It allows remote consultation, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, monitoring, and supervised treatment of patients. Telemedicine is primarily used to deliver healthcare services to remote regions where access to healthcare is limited.
Need for Telemedicine in India
India faces an unequal distribution of doctors catering to its population. This gap has become even more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. Positive health outcomes, especially for people with multiple co-morbidities related to chronic diseases, are possible because of the availability of telemedicine. It can allow physicians and patients to communicate 24×7.
Present Status
Developments in telecommunications and broadband connectivity have enabled telemedicine consultations. Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a 500% rise in telemedicine consultations, with 80% of the users being debutants. Several private initiatives to build telemedicine capacities for pre-screening of COVID-19 also emerged. In response to the pandemic, many Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) expanded access to telemedicine to maintain essential medical care.
Access to NCD Treatment
According to a WHO assessment, since the COVID outbreak, people living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become more vulnerable to becoming severely ill or dying from the pandemic. In India, nearly 5.8 million people die from NCDs (heart and lung diseases, stroke, cancer, and diabetes) every year. So it becomes critically important to ensure that access to NCD treatments remains uninterrupted.
Government Efforts
The Health Ministry and the NITI Aayog released Telemedicine Practice Guidelines 2020 to ensure that access to medical advice did not become a challenge. This allows registered medical practitioners to use tele-consultation. The guidelines, coupled with the tele-consultation services, e-Sanjeevani and e-Sanjeevani OPD, have been used to effectively improve the delivery of health-care services. As of September 26, the tele-consultation platforms have been implemented in 23 States, and the e-Sanjeevani OPD platform has completed a landmark milestone of 4 lakh (Four Hundred Thousand) tele-consultations.
How Telemedicine Works in India
When doctors use telecommunication technology like phone calls, email, SMS/chat, and video calling to diagnose and treat patients remotely, it is known as telemedicine. Booking a video call consultation with a doctor using Practo or Pharmeasy or the transfer of medical images between different hospitals for diagnosis are all examples of telemedicine.
Conclusion
Telemedicine is a promising field that has the potential to revolutionise healthcare in India. It can help bridge the gap between patients and doctors, especially in remote areas. With the increasing adoption of telemedicine, it’s essential to ensure that the quality of care is not compromised. Telemedicine can be a game-changer in the healthcare industry, and it’s exciting to see how it will evolve in the coming years.
I hope you enjoyed this post on telemedicine, its role, and its relevance in India. Please do share this important topic with as many relevant people as you can.
Thanks!
Dr.Sarbjit Singh
Medical Director & Consultant Ophthalmologist
Dr. Shamsher Singh Eye Hospital,
Khanna, Punjab, India.
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