Kamal Narayan, CEO, IHW Council stresses that in between where we stood before the pandemic and where we are now, digital health technologies and new-age technologies like AI evolved and transformed Indian healthcare, at a pace like never before
The healthcare industry has seen a significant transformation throughout the years, owing to technological advancements, the COVID-19 pandemic worked as a catalyst in this transformative change, sweeping away long-held preconceptions about global health and healthcare access.
In the post-pandemic world, as we return to normal life after unprecedented crisis, it is an appropriate time to reflect on the state of healthcare in India, the world’s second most populous country. In between where we stood before the pandemic and where we are now, digital health technologies and new-age technologies like AI evolved and transformed Indian healthcare, at a pace like never before.
Bridging the gap with telemedicine
Healthcare practices in many countries took a shift from in-person consultations to telemedicine. This was to ensure social distancing and avoid the deadly viral infection that claimed millions of lives. Telemedicine emerged as a magical phenomenon during the pandemic as virtual care gained significance. Patients across the world, including in India, were able to consult doctors virtually with the help of remote and digital consultations, bridging the accessibility gap in healthcare. Telemedicine basically involves the use of digital health technologies like connectivity, sensors, and software for healthcare and related uses. Hence it is a boon for country like India where accessibility as well as affordability of healthcare a major concern.
The use of wearable technology to monitor health gained prominence as a pandemic response and the same is reflected in the widespread use of smartwatches and other wearable gadgets to keep a check on body parameters. These personal gadgets are furthering boosting the shift from curative towards a preventive approach thus making way for a patient centric approach in healthcare.
AI- A move towards smart care and reducing the burden on doctors
Cutting-edge technologies have reduced the administrative burden on physicians and AI has taken this game several notches up. Physical burnout among doctors is a prevalent condition and the pandemic was a testing time as we witnessed the problem on a large scale. It has been a long-standing issue across the world, but with AI enabling tech automation, things have started changing.
Nowadays, doctors or physicians are using AI-based voice-recognition software to document a wide range of clinical encounters. For example, speech-recognition software is being implemented by different healthcare providers. They are using it to do routine tasks that used to take a lot of time, like scheduling follow-up appointments and generating emails, orders, and prescriptions.
Better diagnosis through precision medicine and effective patient care
AI-based diagnostics are making effective patient care possible through better diagnosis as well as prognosis of diseases like cancer and diabetes. Precision medicine or personalized care has received a shot in the arm recently due to the implementation of AI. Several studies have also established that the convergence of AI and precision medicine promises to revolutionise healthcare. AI, for instance, leverages sophisticated computation and inference to enable the system to reason and learn, and generate insights. The technology also empowers clinician decision- making through augmented intelligence.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that intelligent healthcare has become the new norm in the post- pandemic setting. AI and digital health are already accelerating the Indian healthcare system to new heights. They are shaping the future of healthcare, with a lot of scope for innovation and implementation of new-age technologies in developing countries like India. A new World Economic Forum report[1] also states that digital health solutions like telemedicine and remote tools and sensors, backed by new technologies like big data, could significantly reduce healthcare costs and equitably improve access, outcomes, and efficiency. However, the constrains of digital divide, economic disparity as well as education level need to be addressed in a holistic manner before we can fully use the technological innovations for a better healthcare ecosystem in the country. Leaving no one behind, as enshrined in the SDG’s should be the priority and digital heath can be an enabler to achieve that goal.
Reference
[1] https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/04/world-health-day-how-ai-and-digital-health-healthcare/