Dr (Hons) Senthil Kandeepan, Founder and CEO, Healthwatch talks about telediagnostics and its current state in the India market
In the fast-paced world of healthcare, where every second counts, imagine a technology that allows doctors to diagnose and treat patients from miles away, bridging the gap between medical professionals and those in need. The realm of telediagnostics has revolutionised how healthcare is delivered. Although at a nascent stage, the telediagnostics and health tech is witnessing a positive response and wide acceptance from users. The telemedicine industry in India has a vast scope for growth and is anticipated to achieve a market worth of $5.4 billion by 2025.
However, despite the growing trend in telediagnosis in the country, there are certain factors that need to be addressed to power country-wide acceptance. One major obstacle is the lack of robust infrastructure and technology. While internet penetration has improved, many areas still lack sufficient connectivity, especially in rural and remote regions where healthcare access is most needed. This limited connectivity inhibits the seamless transmission of medical data and real-time communication between healthcare providers and patients.
Additionally, the availability of smartphones, computers, and other digital devices necessary for telediagnostics is not uniform across the population, further limiting its reach. Moreover, rural areas often lack adequate healthcare infrastructure and well-equipped laboratories, making accurate remote diagnostic tests challenging.
The wave of change in telediagnostics
The scope for wider adoption of telediagnostics is increasing as the population in India is embracing the growing internet penetration. The country presently boasts a staggering count of 360 million urban and 399 million rural individuals actively connected to the Internet. Telediagnostics has already established its presence in bustling metropolitan areas with abundant healthcare services. However, in smaller cities and villages, there remains untapped potential for further development and improvement. These regions hold the key to unlocking the true capabilities of telediagnostics, as it possesses the ability to bridge the divide between scarce medical resources and the urgent healthcare requirements of the population.
The advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms have opened a world of possibilities for telediagnostics. With the AI market in India projected to witness a growth at a CAGR of 20.2 per cent to reach US$ 7.8 billion by 2025, the implementation of it in the telediagnostics field can open up a plethora of opportunities for growth, thus revolutionising healthcare delivery in India. AI and ML technologies can process vast amounts of medical data, identify patterns, and provide accurate diagnoses with remarkable speed.
India, with its tech-savvy populace and advanced IT infrastructure, stands at the forefront of a groundbreaking revolution that could take the services of telediagnostics to a new level. The nation’s immense expanse and captivating diversity open doors to an unparalleled chance of embracing telediagnostics on a larger scale. By unleashing the full potential of telediagnosis, India holds the power to revolutionise the healthcare landscape, bringing medical expertise to even the farthest reaches of the country.
Governmental push for telediagnostics adoption
The Indian government has been actively promoting healthcare access for underserved populations, recognising the importance of adopting technology in this sector. To address regulatory uncertainties surrounding telemedicine, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) has recently released long-awaited guidelines. These guidelines, developed in collaboration with NITI Aayog, allow medical consultations through various communication channels such as text, audio, and video. Importantly, they also permit registered medical practitioners to prescribe medications.
In 2015, the government established the National eHealth Authority (NeHA), an organisation dedicated to promoting, regulating, and setting standards in the health sector. NeHA’s primary objective is to foster the development and advancement of the eHealth ecosystem in India. It aims to facilitate the organisation, management, and provision of effective, people-centred health services in a manner that is efficient, cost-effective, and transparent for all individuals.
The way forward
With the proliferation of telediagnostics, the risk of compromising quality cannot be ignored. It is crucial to establish regulations and standards that ensure the delivery of reliable and accurate diagnoses. Striking the right balance between growth and regulation is paramount to ensure the credibility and effectiveness of telediagnostics in India. When implemented responsibly, telediagnostics offers enormous benefits to the Indian healthcare system. Its scalability, swiftness, accuracy, and convenience make it a game-changer. Through telediagnostics, healthcare services can be brought directly to people’s homes, saving them time, money, and unnecessary travel. This approach has the potential to improve healthcare outcomes, especially in remote areas where access to specialised medical expertise is limited.
Moreover, the establishment of telediagnostics opens a world of further possibilities to develop complementary technologies and services, such as remote monitoring devices, teleconsultations, and personalised healthcare solutions. This synergy between various health-tech innovations has the potential to revolutionise the healthcare experience, making it more patient-centred, efficient, and effective.
Furthermore, to make telediagnostics a reality for all, assistance from medical practitioners and healthcare establishments can allow the lead in promoting these products and services. Their active involvement and advocacy will help build trust among patients and create awareness about the benefits of telediagnostics.