Four years down the line from now, the world was under the most unpredictable lockdown. All the sectors including healthcare had become almost impossible to run because of the spread of deadly coronavirus. However, in these times of difficulty, telemedicine became a boon to the healthcare industry. While telemedicine had developed long before the arrival of COVID-19, it was not as prominent as it became during the pandemic.
Telemedicine refers to consulting healthcare providers online via phone or video call. It can safely be called a remote clinical consultation. To understand the concept of telemedicine OnlyMyHealth team interacted with Rajeev Taneja, Founder, Global Care, Gurugram.
Taneja said, “The telemedicine industry emerged as a transformative force in the healthcare sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though telemedicine services were integrated into most healthcare systems even before the onset of the pandemic, they began to be extensively used only during the COVID-19 crisis, enhancing accessibility, efficiency, and quality of medical services world wide.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a doctor-population ratio of 1:1000 while the current doctor population ratio in India is only 0.62:1000. Training of new physicians is time consuming and expensive and this is where tele-medicine can truly make a difference. Telemedicine can partly be made up by providing these services rapidly in various parts of the country.
Also read: Doctor Verified Answers To 10 Most Searched Health Questions On The Internet
According to Ishaan, the reason for this remarkable projected growth is that Telemedicine offers several key benefits including convenient care access, easy patient navigation, convenient and quick appointment times, access to the best Doctors and clinical experts and opinions from renowned Doctors within 24-72 hours. A few of these key benefits are:
1. Early Identification and Diagnosis
By enabling remote consultations with specialists, telemedicine empowers earlier diagnosis and swifter treatment for patients. This is especially advantageous for individuals residing in remote or underserved areas who might otherwise encounter significant travel hurdles in seeking expert care. “Telemedicine bridges this gap, allowing them to connect with specialists quickly, potentially leading to earlier identification of health concerns and the timely initiation of treatment plans,” he said.
2. Continuous Monitoring and Follow-Ups
As per Taneja, after receiving treatment, patients can continue their recovery and rehabilitation under the supervision of their healthcare providers through telemedicine. This continuous monitoring ensures that any complications are promptly addressed, improving patient outcomes.
Also read: Expert Shares How Regenerative Medicine May Help Solve Lactose Intolerance
3. Cost-Effectiveness and Accessibility
Telemedicine reduces the overall cost of healthcare by minimising travel expenses and hospital stays. Even for domestic treatment, tele-medicine can help reduce costs by a huge margin. Adding further, Taneja said, “As technology continues to advance, the capabilities of telemedicine will expand, offering more sophisticated and comprehensive healthcare solutions.”
Telemedicine has become an indispensable tool in improving healthcare access and quality, providing patients worldwide with unprecedented access to top-tier medical services. The integration of telemedicine not only enhances efficiency and reduces costs but also ensures continuous, high-quality care. As technology evolves, the role of telemedicine in global healthcare will only grow, making it a critical component of future healthcare strategies.