India's Digital Health Transformation: Advancements and Challenges in Telemedicine
Nupur Sinha* and Rahul E
Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Acharya Institute of Allied Health Sciences, Bengaluru, India
*Corresponding Author: Nupur Sinha, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Acharya Institute of Allied Health Sciences, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Road, Soldevanahalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Published: February 08, 2025
DOI: 10.55162/MCMS.08.271
Abstract
Telemedicine offers underprivileged communities high-quality healthcare by diagnosing and treating patients remotely via telecommunications technology. The first known instance of telemedicine occurred in the early 1900s when an ECG was sent over a telephone line. Since then, telemedicine has advanced significantly in terms of technology and healthcare delivery. NASA and ISRO played a major role in making this possible. In 2005, the Indian Health Ministry established the National Telemedicine Taskforce, which facilitated several initiatives such as the ICMR-AROGYASREE, NeHA, and VRCs.
Telemedicine facilitates patient monitoring and provides family doctors with easy access to specialists. Numerous telemedicine systems, such as store and forward, real-time, remote, or self-monitoring, offer a range of services for disease screening, education, disaster relief, and healthcare delivery and management worldwide. Telemedicine has the potential to greatly lessen the strain on the healthcare system, notwithstanding its drawbacks. Telemedicine has altered the way that healthcare is delivered, particularly in rural areas. By reducing travel, improving access to specialists, aiding in the management of chronic illnesses, and addressing professional shortages, it offers a workable solution to healthcare disparities. However, problems like infrastructure limitations and technological literacy need ongoing attention to ensure equitable, long-term access for all.
Keywords: Applications of telemedicine; history of telemedicine; telemedicine in family medicine; telemedicine in India; telemedicine in public health; types of telemedicine
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