A recent survey by HIMSS revealed that despite unanimous agreement on the importance of software quality assurance, 94 per cent of software testing decision-makers at major US providers agreed that insufficient test coverage is increasingly endangering patient lives
The National Health Authority (NHA) of India has made a notable move to bolster the incorporation of digital health records in the nation’s healthcare system. The idea is to encourage health providers to adopt electronic medical systems and make digital records more accessible to Indian citizens, with Rs 40 million invested in 10 or more-bed healthcare systems and providers of digital solutions, such as HMIS and LMIS. In light of this, the Indian government has set aside Rs 500 million ($6 million) to be distributed over the forthcoming six months.
As India transitions towards a more digitised healthcare landscape, such initiatives play a critical role in encouraging stakeholders to adopt digital solutions. This will contribute to a more efficient and patient-centered healthcare ecosystem.
In the meantime, the demand for robust, comprehensive software testing is high. A recent survey by HIMSS revealed that despite unanimous agreement on the importance of software quality assurance, 94 per cent of software testing decision-makers at major US providers agreed that insufficient test coverage is increasingly endangering patient lives.
While other industries embracing test automation at scale, the healthcare sector has been slow to follow suit. In the study, only 15 per cent of providers surveyed have adopted modern test automation platforms, with 38 per cent still relying on manual testing methods and 44 per cent opting for DIY approaches. As EMRs become increasingly customised, interlinked, and frequently upgraded, these outdated methods fall short in terms of scalability and reusability, resulting in massive technical debt and inconsistent test coverage.
However, a remedy exists. The study reveals that early adopters who embraced test automation platforms have seen remarkable improvements in their test analytics and scalability for future challenges. Specifically, test automation platforms can:
- Boost satisfaction with organisations’ testing analytics by a staggering 1.8X
- Enhance satisfaction with organisations’ ability to scale and meet emerging testing requirements by an impressive 2.2X
As India’s healthcare industry speeds up its digital transformation, manual and DIY testing methods are becoming outdated. It is the responsibility of healthcare IT leaders to automate software testing to ensure the quality and reliability of their systems, thus safeguarding patients, physicians, and healthcare workers. The time to act is now.