One patient One record: The future of healthcare

In the era of internet, the healthcare industry is making strides to keep up with the ever-changing technology. E-pharma industry was the first one, to disrupt this largely disorganized sector. With a focus on technology, integration of traditional healthcare delivery with modern means will be the key to creating a complete end-to-end digital healthcare ecosystem in India. However, this sector faces certain operational challenges, which includes the adoption of technology-based solutions in rural and Tier II & Tier III zones.

Existing technology and the ones under development can potentially change the nature of healthcare delivery in India. And to ensure that one needs to routinely update and maintain patient data so the healthcare professionals can make informed care decisions. Technologies such as telemedicine, Electronic Health Record (EHR), chronic disease management apps can bring about a fundamental change, considering that nearly 60 per cent of hospitals and healthcare centres are concentrated in urban areas. Access to quality healthcare is one of the biggest challenges and digital disruptions can bridge this gap and create a favourable healthcare delivery system in the country. This coupled with mobile applications in regional languages, digitizing prescriptions and assisted healthcare services will further improve and enable digital healthcare.

EHRs and digital profiles play a key role in the smooth functioning of other operations in the digital healthcare ecosystem. The “One Patient One Record” model is especially important in rural India, where access to trained medical professionals and medicines is difficult. In rural India, most patients even today end up going to untrained and unlicensed professionals, which pose a serious threat to the individual. A patient vault with a complete record of the individuals’ medical history, past findings and results, will help doctors make an effective diagnosis. This also reduces the risk of errors and misinterpretation. The power of data & artificial intelligence drives the EHR movement in India. This not only benefits the patient, but also makes every other stakeholder in the healthcare system like insurance companies, diagnosticians, pharmacists, doctors, and even the government accountable at different stages of the patient’s healthcare journey.

EHRs enable and automate insurance claims, medicine subscription & refill, digitize prescription and also help the individual avail the many benefits of government schemes such as the National Health Protection Mission (Ayushman Bharat). Groundbreaking technology such as Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence will further improve patient experience and interaction. A digital ecosystem will not just benefit the patients but also help the government reduce the cost of public healthcare in the country.

Challenges in the healthcare delivery system have found a solution with tech disruptions in the industry. However slow adoption poses the biggest challenge for the health-tech sector. With the government’s policies aligning with the ongoing progress in technology, one can rest assured that the future of healthcare is digital.

Advait Suhas Pandit

Guest Author The author is Chief Technology Officer at Netmeds.com