Tech-enabled healthcare services in India are at the threshold of an epoch-making era wherein technology will integrally relate to shaping their future.
In fact, our country has a population of over 65% residing in rural areas, with quite a significant disparity in access to health care. It is here that digital health solutions will make the most radical change in terms of delivery.
As a healthcare consulting firm, we are conscious of the need to be ahead of such trends. In this blog, we look at how technology-enabled healthcare services continue to shape the future of Indian healthcare for better access and outcomes with improved patient experience.
The Current State Of Health Care Services In India
India’s health system is pluralistic and dominated by private providers, about 70% of health care services are being catered to by them.
However, notwithstanding these appreciable gains so far, some of the challenges facing the country include general infrastructure, inadequate health-human resources, and inequity in access to quality care.
According to the WHO, India has only 8.6 doctors per 10,000 people against an average of 15.6 for the world as a whole.
However, technology has rapidly begun to fill these gaps with its solutions. COVID-19 accelerated the use of tech-enabled healthcare services in India that had needs in the management of care remotely and digitally in health solutions.
The Rise Of Telemedicine
One of the most important tectonic shifts in healthcare services in India is the rise of telemedicine services.
Telemedicine has made it possible for one to consult doctors without necessarily going to a consultation room through video calls, chat, or phone calls. This has been a game-changer for people who have stayed in rural areas and earlier had to travel miles to see a doctor.
As per statistics, telemedicine grew 300% in India during the pandemic and would reach a market value of USD 5.5 billion by 2025, driven by increased smartphone penetration, affordable internet, and more importantly by the thrust given by the government on digital health initiatives.
NDHM aimed to create an advanced digital health ecosystem and extend a unique health ID and digital access code for health records to every Indian citizen.
Mobile Health (Mhealth) Apps
Mhealth applications are the other most prominent components in technology-enabled health care services. Some of these apps do a number of tasks ranging from tracking fitness and diet to managing chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
mHealth applications facilitate the self-sufficiency of patients regarding their health by providing them with tools for condition monitoring and access to medical information at the touch of a button.
The report by Grand View Research presents the global mHealth market, valued at USD 40.7 billion in 2020 and expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 29.2% from 2021 to 2028.
mHealth applications are growing in India, and millions of people use them for their daily health needs. A trend that is only expected to continue as more people become aware of the benefits derived from these apps, and as technology continues to evolve.
Artificial Intelligence In Health Care
Artificial Intelligence is going to revolutionize healthcare services in India by offering more accurate diagnostics, treatment plans, and predictive analytics.
AI-powered tools can decipher the heaping medical data that will help doctors make better-informed decisions. For instance, algorithms using AI can identify early symptoms of cancer or heart ailments and hence assist in early treatment with better outcomes for the patient.
A study by PwC estimated that AI could contribute a total of USD 957 billion to India’s economy by 2035, placing healthcare as one of the key sectors where this technology will benefit immensely.
Besides, AI applies to diagnosis, drug discovery, robotic surgery, and patient monitoring. More healthcare providers and institutions will lead to the increased use of AI in health care services.
Wearable Technology
Wearable technologies include fitness trackers and smartwatches that have become highly popular in India in the last few years.
Wearables track health indicators like pulse rates, sleeping habits, and physical activities. They provide real-time information that you can share with health providers for improved, personalized treatment and early detection of health issues.
One of the biggest hits in India is wearable technology. According to a report by IDC, the wearable market grew 93.8% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2021, driven by affordable device availability and increasing health consciousness among the population.
It is envisioned that advanced wearable technology will play a very important role in preventive healthcare and management of chronic diseases in the future.
Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
EHRs are the digital version of patient paper charts. Each has comprehensive health information about the patient, including his medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, immunization dates, and test results.
Doctors enhance efficiency in healthcare services by accessing patient information instantly, minimizing errors, and enabling coordinated care.
EHRs are still in their infancy in India, but they have gained very impressive momentum of late. The Government of India’s National Digital Health Mission is working towards developing a standardized digital health infrastructure, of which EHRs are a critical part.
With more hospitals and clinics coming up with EHR systems, patients would benefit from enhanced continuity of care and much more accurate diagnosis.
The Role Of Big Data In Health Care Services
Big data is greatly revolutionizing the health care services of India, aiding informed decision-making through the use of analytics for improved outcomes in patients.
Such analysis of big datasets would help the health professional identify patterns and trends that aid in better treatment and preventive measures. Applications include disease surveillance, patient management, and health planning.
Big data analytics will show how diseases emerge and spread in real time, opening ways for quicker responses and containment.
The big data will create a patient management forecast indicating those likely to fall to certain conditions for early intervention. Also, big data used in tech-enabled healthcare services will increase in the coming years as more healthcare providers start to take data-driven approaches.
Robotics In Health Care
The other exciting development in tech-enabled healthcare services relates to robotics.
Robots were being used in surgery, rehabilitation, and patient care. Specifically, robotic surgery offers a host of advantages, including greater precision, reduced recovery times, and less pain.
However, the robotic surgery market is catching up in India, and installations of the robotic systems are going on in more numbers of hospitals.
Research and Markets report projects that the Indian surgical robotics market will grow at a rate of 20% per year from 2020 to 2025.
Driving factors for this growth include increasing demand for minimally invasive surgeries, advancement of robotic technology, and escalating healthcare expenditure.
Blockchain Technology In Health Care
Blockchain Technology has the power to alter health care services in India, which would make the management of patient data secure, transparent, and tamper-proof.
This technology can decentralize health records, ensuring that authorized individuals have secure and accessible patient information.
Apart from data security, blockchain will also facilitate efficiency in the healthcare supply chain by tracking drugs and medical supplies right from the manufacturers to the patients.
This technology can also be used to counter the sale of spurious drugs, which is a major problem in India. The application of blockchain in health care services is still at a nascent stage but the future possibilities are immense.
Challenges And Opportunities
While India’s future in technology-enabled healthcare services appears promising, many challenges remain to be addressed. Such include:
- Digital Divide: As technology modernizes healthcare services, it causes a growing digital divide between rural and urban areas.
Rural residents often lack fast, reliable internet access, not to mention smartphones, making it difficult for them to benefit from tech-enabled healthcare services.
- Data Privacy and Security: Increasing use of digital health solutions gives rise to the issue of patient data privacy and security.
It is imperative that healthcare providers implement robust data protection measures to prevent sensitive information leaks.
- Regulatory and Legal Framework: The governing regulatory and legal framework, due to this rapid technology adoption, requires further updating for the safety of patients, protection of data, and maintaining ethical practices.
Guidelines are being drafted by the Indian government, but much more is required just to keep pace with technological changes.
Notwithstanding these setbacks, significant avenues for growth in tech-enabled healthcare services still exist in the country.
The government’s push for digital health, coupled with private sector innovation, is fostering a more favorable environment for the adoption of new technologies.
A Word From Kashif Infratech Private Limited
Technology has played a decisive role in revolutionising healthcare services in India and will continue to do so in the future.
Indeed, technology-enabled solutions for telemedicine and mHealth applications, AI, and wearable technology are going to ensure improved healthcare access, efficiency, and patient-centeredness.
Technology can overcome the challenges in Indian healthcare, ensuring quality care for all citizens. The journey has just begun, and the future is endless for tech-enabled health care services in India.
As a healthcare consulting firm, the future is exciting, with many prospects unfolding in front of us in upgrading or starting a hospital with recent technologies.
Kashif Infratech Private Limited having expertise in healthcare consulting with more than 100 years of combined experience through its experts extends its handholding support to healthcare providers and guides them through the shifting landscape.
The enablement of technology through its expert guidance will not only equip the service providers to be ahead of the curve but will also enable them to get better returns on investments.
