Dr Aakaar Kapoor, Medical Advisor and Chief Radiologist at City Xray & Scan Clinic highlights that digital developments in today’s more interconnected world are having a huge impact on the healthcare system and the field of medical diagnostics as well
The world of diagnostics is rapidly moving to smart digital diagnostics, and India is no longer behind in redefining this space with the advent of new-age technologies. Emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have contributed to the overall healthcare in the past few years in the country, including diagnostics, which is heading in the direction of complete automation.
These emerging technologies have transformed diagnostic operations, besides enhancing the potential of our pathology and radiology equipment. The best part is that the tech upgrade has not made quality diagnostics expensive or exclusive but affordable and accessible. Some of the emerging technologies in the diagnostics space are IoT, AI, Blockchain, and Telemedicine.
Diagnostics form the foundation for more than 70 per cent of medical decisions
The mainstay of disease detection, diagnosis, and evaluation is diagnostics. It forms the foundation for more than 70 per cent of medical decisions involving disease management, treatment, and prevention. Diagnostics is also a vital component of preventative healthcare. This makes technology penetration a must in this space.
Let us have a look at how the tech revolution has transformed the diagnostics space in India, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 played a catalyst in redefining the diagnostics space in India
The recent COVID-19 pandemic was a great example of how disruptive technologies left their mark on healthcare. The healthcare industry has undergone a sea change, from remote consultations to online delivery of medicines to predictive diagnostics. As pathology and laboratory medicine rely heavily on technology, this offers an ideal ground for disruptive breakthroughs. Disruptive diagnostics enabled physicians to opt for the right treatment protocol for the COVID-19 affected patients. No doubt emerging technologies have led to a diagnostic capability revolution. This will propel laboratories to the next level of patient care.
Apart from that, the emerging need for personalised treatment approaches during the pandemic has created a need for accuracy as well as precision in diagnostics. This need is being fulfilled with the implementation of AI, ML, and data analytics.
How AI and digitalisation are changing the diagnostics landscape in India
Digital developments in today’s more interconnected world are having a huge impact on the healthcare system and the field of medical diagnostics as well. As a result of the success of AI, digital diagnostics is expanding, intending to achieve effective and less expensive diagnoses, prognoses, and predictions of diseases. Technology developments have simplified, improved, and decreased the cost of diagnostic procedures. More money has been earned and the industry has benefited. Digitalisation of the market is being driven by AI and robotic process automation. Digital diagnosis aids in crisis management and satisfies the ever-growing demands of those looking for top-notch medical care. The realm of clinical decision-making and disease is being transformed by the current generation of diagnostics equipped with digital technology.
Pathologists no longer need to send samples to the reference laboratory for examination since digital scanning technology allows the conversion to take place on-site. In addition to that, the encouragement of a transition from manual to automated processing using cloud-based robotics and AI will significantly reduce the need for human intervention and move sample collection, sample and reagent handling, sample analysis, and diagnosis from manual to automated processing.
Conclusion
The diagnostics in India is one of the most promising industries. A growing number of hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities are implementing AI-driven applications to enhance patient care along with their diagnosis. With the development of its technologies, diagnostic centers are significantly advancing the health industry. To expand their services, most diagnostic centers either work with health technology companies or adopt new technologies themselves. The adoption of AI in the diagnostic sector, a driver for rising revenues, is also enhancing diagnostic services for non-communicable disorders like heart attack, cancer, diabetes, stroke, and many other diseases.