Arindam Sen, Director, i2i Telesolutions highlights that teleconsultations enable cost-effective and convenient access to specialists across long distances by sorting out the best surgeon or specialist as per the requirement. In addition, using digital health tools not only improves care quality but also lowers the cost of healthcare services
The Indian healthcare system encounters a number of challenges, including limited infrastructure, a shortage of competent medical practitioners, and expensive medical bills. According to the World Health Organisation, more than 88.7 per cent of the Indian population cannot access clinical consultation. Teleconsultation, or the use of technology to facilitate remote contact between patients and healthcare practitioners, can be significant in resolving health inequities caused by geographic, economic, and social barriers. With more than 70 per cent of the population living within 10 kilometers of an appropriate medical device, it has the potential to close more than 40 per cent of the gap in rural healthcare access. According to the National Health Portal, telemedicine has the potential to save India up to $2 million in healthcare spending.
Many types of teleconsultation are now possible owing to advancements in digital health technologies, such as telemedicine, telemonitoring, and telepsychiatry. It can assist in bridging the gap for people living in underserved areas, where healthcare resources are typically sparse and access is challenging, by linking them with experienced health experts who can provide appropriate care. Consultation via virtual mediums also enables rapid diagnosis and treatment for individuals living in distant areas where long wait periods for specialised care may compromise patients’ health. The process can also help lower physician workloads in India’s overburdened healthcare system by allowing them to consult with more patients in a more efficient and time-saving manner.
Several teleconsultation services are available in India and are acing up the game because it aims to address patients’ health issues by connecting the patients to specialists via local physicians in rural regions. It works on a hybrid model by collaborating with multi-specialists for effective communication and timely treatment of the patients after they are recommended by local physicians. The company acts as a prime catalyst to complete the healthcare cycle in India. It can also ace the game in areas where a patient cannot access a doctor, grounding him access to care only via consultation over a virtual call.
Teleconsultations enable cost-effective and convenient access to specialists across long distances by sorting out the best surgeon or specialist as per the requirement. In addition, using digital health tools not only improves care quality but also lowers the cost of healthcare services.
Furthermore, these services benefit the elderly and those suffering from chronic illnesses because it is far easier and more convenient for those with long-term conditions to consult a doctor from the comfort of their own cities. This is possible because a physician can take care of the patient’s case under the remote guidance of a specialist when he is not physically present. Patient care can be better optimised and adapted to the requirements of individuals with this method, assisting in the reduction of health inequities. The intact collaboration between the healthcare delivery ecosystem helps to bridge the gap between the patients’ needs and the urban specialists to improvise the health infrastructure of the nation.
Teleconsultation is a promising technology with the potential to drastically lower the challenges associated with healthcare disparities. It can provide more equitable and convenient treatment for individuals at risk of health disparities by permitting remote consultations and providing an accessible gateway to quality healthcare by connecting them to a specialist. Furthermore, by lowering the chances of inaccurate justification of ailments by patients, i2i ensures that information resources are directed towards providing personalised care rather than additional overhead.
- Advertisement -