Accelerating Market Penetration Through Digital Healthcare Platforms

Telemedicine has been widely adopted across the world and has actively driven the growth factor for the digital healthcare domain. Telemedicine, as a concept did exist in India, but found its due when the pandemic struck. Individuals earlier preferred in-person check-up and consultation, however, now the situation has evolved. The outbreak of COVID-19 introduced 'virtual' to be the new norm.

Telemedicine as a concept has been around for a very long time. In the very beginning, telemedicine was used to connect doctors to patients across different locations. This arrangement worked out very well for people living in rural or remote areas who would find it hard to travel to locations where the specialist doctors are based. The virtual consultation model helped reach millions of people who could otherwise not be able to afford travelling for just a consultation or a second opinion. This approach led to a growth in telemedicine, albeit a limited one.

The steady technological advancements and rise of the internet brought about profound changes in the telemedicine realm. Technology advancements like smartphones, fast internet, video calls, etc. proved to further strengthen the concept of telemedicine in people’s lives. It helped to promote quality healthcare remotely to patients at home, or wherever they are, right at their fingertips.

While in-person doctor visits were still a preferred mode for many people, it is believed that telemedicine struck gold during the pandemic. The healthcare industry saw a boom in telemedicine; the growth has been exponential since online consultation platforms became the need of the hour.

This transition, triggered by the pandemic, is a blessing. As an industry, and as a country, we have come to realize the various benefits of telemedicine and online consultation. This arrangement saw a mutually benefitted arrangement for patients and health-service providers alike.

Patients enjoy benefits such as access to convenient contact-less consultations, quality healthcare at your fingertips, twenty-four-seven access to specialist doctors online. Whereas healthcare providers enjoy high revenues, increased efficiency with patients, improved health outcomes, fewer missed appointments and many more.

Individuals have benefited from telemedicine not only for basic diagnosis but for chronic treatments as well. Patients suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension etc have been able to monitor their symptoms and take care of their health.

People across demographics are adopting technology like never before. This has given ammunition to already existing businesses and has also led to new businesses in this domain being set up. These new developments have led to accelerated market penetration for digital healthcare platforms to make their way into making a difference to an already existing healthcare infrastructure.

Another fact worth considering is the rise in demand across the rapidly increasing elderly population worldwide; for whom the digital healthcare infrastructure has proven to be fully beneficial. With features like artificial intelligence, virtual reality devices for pain management and diagnosis, along with machine learning upcoming into the field of healthcare has further steadied the growth and has proven to be the primary driver for market penetration.

The digital health market is expected to grow by 600 per cent by 2025. This has been estimated basis the rise is in the steady convergence of digital infrastructure and healthcare along with factors such as increased awareness for health among people, rising standards of healthcare facilities, etc.

Healthcare analytics over healthcare platforms have proven to be beneficial for medical professionals. This enables them to be able to monitor infections, diagnosis that is working etc. The adoption of at-home services owing to the pandemic to reduce infections opened more avenues for the digital medical fraternity, as the demand for electronic records further increased as well. Healthcare analytics and online records meant, they could be archived forever and available whenever needed just by a few clicks with easy access for both medical professionals and patients.

The telehealth industry had a significant market presence in the pre-COVID era. However, the pandemic and the expedition of the technological advancements and steady adoption of the same have triggered the growth, increased demand and accelerated market penetration for the digital healthcare domain, which at present continues to grow and will hit targets in the future.

Satish Kannan

Guest Author Satish Kannan is the Co-founder and CEO of DocsApp, a one-of-its-kind app that connects doctors with patients on the go and provides efficient and convenient diagnostic services and medicines at their doorsteps.