Telemedicine: A Game Changer for the Healthcare Industry
"In an age where the average consumer manages nearly all aspects of life online, it is a no-brainer that healthcare should be just as convenient, accessible and safe as online banking." - Jonathan Linkous
COVID-19 is a major world changing event which is causing disruptions in every sector across the globe. Such major events are often seen as an inflexion point for rapid innovation like the rise of e-commerce post SARS. Though it is too early to predict, we might see the rise of telemedicine post COVID-19.
With the new government guidelines by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, a Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) is allowed to provide telemedicine consultation to patients from across the country. These are the new regulations for telemedicine practice in India which have come amidst chaos and shut down caused by the global pandemic. It provisions patients to seek immediate help in case of a health emergency amidst the inability to visit a doctor.
Before, COVID-19 there were no clear guidelines concerning telemedicine which often created ambiguity among RMPs. In effect, while some telemedicine projects and companies did progress, some got delayed.
Telehealth Changing the Way We Thought of Healthcare
Videoconferencing has already been an advantageous tool for many, giving them opportunities to stay connected with friends, family, and colleagues from any corner of the world. This tool, when used in health care i.e. telehealth is revolutionising the healthcare system with quality and convenient care for patients without having to travel. This technology helps bridge the care access divide and reach people in rural and remote areas which still lack access to primary healthcare. Moreover, in-person visits are chaotic when a person has to take time off work for a routine check-up.
Global Telemedicine Market Analysis, a report published by Market Data Forecast, estimated the global telemedicine market to be USD 35.46 billion in 2019 and predicted it to be USD 80.61 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 17.85%. This estimate was made before COVID-19 outbreak. Considering the present scenario when our healthcare centres have become the battleground to combat COVID-19 and therefore, become risky places for both patients and healthcare workers, the telemedicine market is expected to grow at an unprecedented pace.
The Huge Potential
For patients, telemedicine negates the need for travel and saves long wait times in the doctor's clinic. It also saves them money. The convenience to handle simple medical issues virtually with physician's care without having to make an appointment to go and see the doctor is inevitable. Moreover, a major chunk of people living in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities usually lack the quality of healthcare like the one in Tier 1 cities. Also, the rural areas usually lack even the basic medical support. Here, telemedicine can support the country's healthcare system in a way that is unimaginable. Access, a time saver and convenience — these benefits justify that telemedicine has a bright future.
Beyond just radically improving patient care, telemedicine has a lot more benefits for physicians. It can be transformative for their work-life balance and ultimately their job satisfaction. It can help them with control over scheduling and downtime and serve patients from remotest parts of the country who usually remain untreated due to the lack of access to healthcare.
It can alleviate stress on urgent care clinics and overburdened emergency rooms. Also, physicians' increased availability through telemedicine will free up hospital beds for patients that need them most. Telemedicine also gives a chance for physicians to embrace technology who are otherwise sceptical.
Summing It All Up
With the government working towards addressing the ambiguities of telemedicine and bringing new regulations, the telemedicine space will continue to evolve, turning the adoption tide. As people become familiar with its benefits, it will cultivate behavioural change, doing away with reluctance to adopt the technology infused healthcare. With technology savvy doctors entering care delivery, increased adoption can be expected both by doctors and patients.
