Digital therapeutics is relatively new field in India but is showing signs of growth

Deepak Tuli, Co-Founder & COO, Eka Care talks about the predictions that will revolutionise the future of healthcare

Being one of India’s fastest-growing tech sectors, medtech surprises everyone with innovative healthcare solutions every year. With its potential to revolutionise healthcare, medtech start-ups started offering a range of exciting new possibilities for patients and medical professionals, along with simplifying healthcare for people in general. As the industry continues to evolve, new trends and opportunities are being discovered in the healthcare sector. Here are my predictions that will revolutionise the future of healthcare.

Telemedicine

Telemedicine is one of the top medtech trends and opportunities in India. With a population of over 130 crores, around 90 lakh people from rural areas do not have access to proper healthcare facilities. With growing low-cost Internet penetration & mobility, the need for easily accessible healthcare facilities like telemedicine is a boon.

Telemedicine allows for remote consultations and remote monitoring of patients, which can simplify the hassle of people living in rural areas accessing healthcare facilities. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of telemedicine in India, as it allows for medical consultations to be done from the comfort of one’s home.

Apart from rural areas and tier 3 cities, people who live in urban and semi-urban areas are going for telemedicine to save their traveling time and effort.

Artificial Intelligence-based healthcare service

Artificial intelligence (AI) is augmenting healthcare processes in several ways. Some examples include

• Image analysis: AI algorithms can be trained to analyse medical images, such as x-rays and CT scans, to identify potential health issues and assist with diagnoses.
• Predictive modelling: AI can be used to analyse patient data and predict outcomes, such as the likelihood of a patient developing a particular condition or the effectiveness of a specific treatment.
• Natural language processing: AI-based NLP tools can extract valuable information from electronic medical records, clinical notes, and other unstructured data.
• Fitness planning: AI-based diet and exercise regime planning tools have also arrived on the market lately to help people plan a healthy lifestyle in a pocket-friendly way.
• Chatbots and virtual assistants: AI-powered virtual assistants can assist patients with scheduling appointments, providing information about symptoms, and answering general health questions.
• Clinical decision support: AI systems can assist doctors and healthcare professionals in making clinical decisions by providing real-time data analysis, identifying potential health issues, and suggesting treatment options.

Overall, the use of AI in healthcare has the potential to improve the quality of care, increase efficiency and reduce costs.

Virtual reality

Virtual reality is helping the healthcare industry in India in several ways. Some examples include:

• Medical training: VR technology can be used to simulate surgeries, allowing medical students and trainees to practice procedures in a safe, controlled environment before performing them on real patients.
• Rehabilitation & mental health: VR can be used to provide physical therapy and rehabilitation for patients recovering from injuries or surgeries, PTSD, phobias, and anxiety disorders.
• Patient education: VR can be used to educate patients about their condition, the treatment options available, and the potential outcomes of surgery.

It means VR technology has the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs by providing more effective treatment and training options for healthcare professionals.

Hyderabad based Immertive is using virtual reality and augmented reality to create smart learning modules for healthcare practitioners and medical students.

Digital therapeutics

Digital therapeutics uses technology, such as software, mobile applications, and digital devices, to prevent, manage, and treat medical conditions. These technologies are designed to be used as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with traditional medical treatments, such as medications or surgery.

Digital therapeutics can be classified differently, but one way to categorise them is by the type of medical condition they address. Some examples include:

• Behavioral health: Digital therapeutics for behavioral health include mobile apps and software programs that help people manage conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
• Chronic disease management: Includes mobile apps and wearable devices that help people manage conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory illness.
• Pain management: This includes mobile apps and wearable devices that help people manage chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia, chronic low back pain, and neuropathic pain.
• Neurological disorders: Digital therapeutics for neurological disorders include mobile apps and software programs that help people manage conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Digital therapeutics (DTx) is a relatively new field in India but is showing signs of growth.

Several Indian companies are working on developing digital therapeutics for various indications. However, the adoption of DTx in India is still in the early stages. Several challenges must be addressed, such as lack of regulation, awareness, and limited access to technology.

Connected healthcare Ecosystem

ABDM is a digital mission to consolidate all the healthcare facilities and everyone’s health information in a systemized manner to make healthcare more simple, affordable, and accessible.

The Ayushman Bharat Health account (ABHA) is a digital account powered by the Ayushman Bharat Digital mission that allows you to organise, access, and share medical records without hassle.

Benefits of ABHA

• It never lets you waste time finding your medical records.
• It ends the need to carry a physical file while visiting doctors.
• It keeps your health information safe and secure.
• It allows seamless and safe sharing of health reports through ABHA address and consent pin.
• It instantly generates a token fast-track OPD counter without letting you stand in a long queue in government hospitals.

Eka Care, listed as wellness essentials by google on the play store, is an emerging health-tech start-up. It has stepped into the market as a significant self-health monitoring platform for everyday people.