Written by : Jayati Dubey
June 7, 2023
Telemedicine, which was once regarded as "futuristic" and "exploratory," is now a necessity and will continue to be so. It makes healthcare more accessible to anyone, anywhere, and bridges the gap in access to immediate medical care. Telemedicine and its serviceability dimension expanded as the pandemic gained momentum and neared its peak. Regardless of geology, telehealth was the go-to office for any expected clinical consideration in the pandemic. During COVID-19, one of the most significant changes was the introduction of telemedicine. As the pandemic gives indications of decrease, the telemedicine model will keep on working, though for certain varieties.
The development of a regulatory framework for telemedicine in India by reputable federal and medical bodies, including the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the NITI Aayog, Board of Governors (BoG), and the Medical Council of India (MCI), in March 2020, can be traced back to the infancy of telemedicine in India. The deployment included specific recommendations and guidelines. The digital care pathways, prescriptions, and other information were made available to the caregivers. Cardiovascular, diabetes, and respiratory diseases have claimed approximately 4 million lives in India. The age of onset of such diseases is around 45 in India, contrasted with the worldwide normal of 55 in developed nations.
Most non-communicable diseases (NCD) are viable for help through telemedicine. Patients can be trained to self-report their blood pressure, blood glucose, and body weight during the initial consultations and follow-ups. A report from McKinsey proposes that a far-flung approach to set up telemedicine can possibly economize 4-5 billion in the healthcare industry in India.
The addition of telehealth as a stand-alone service to the overall delivery of health care is insufficient. It's better for getting immediate medical help, like first consultations, triage, and follow-up. It follows a more hybrid model rather than replacing direct physical contact between the patient and healthcare providers. For example, a GP can at first use telehealth to communicate with a patient for stomach aches, however at that point an actual visit would be expected for a scan. Following the outcome, a digital follow-up can be carried out. This incorporated layout can be more logical and guarantee the conveyance of efficient long-term care.