Is TeleHealth Here to Stay?
The delivery of healthcare has experienced a significant shift in response to unanticipated worldwide challenges, with one of the most important changes being the introduction of Telehealth. Telehealth has quickly established itself as an essential component of contemporary healthcare delivery, becoming an integral component of healthcare, overcoming geographical limitations thanks to technological support and increasing demand for innovative healthcare solutions.
The Rise of Telehealth - Using Telecommunications for Healthcare Delivery
Technology stepped in to fill that gap when the world shut down public physical movement during the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting access to healthcare and other resources. It was during this time that the concept of telehealth became popular. Social distancing measures and concerns about viral spread pushed telehealth into the limelight. With in-person hospital visits discouraged to contain the spread of viral load, healthcare providers adapted to telehealth platforms to maintain patient care.
But there was more to this change than just the convenience. Consultations via telehealth reduced the possibility of infecting patients and medical personnel with the virus. Additionally, it guaranteed continuity of care, which was especially important for people with long-term illnesses who couldn't afford to skip appointments. In addition, individuals with less severe ailments could obtain care from a distance, guaranteeing that hospital resources remained accessible for patients in critical condition. As a result, the pandemic brought to light the many advantages of telehealth, encouraging broad adoption by physicians and patients alike.
Telehealth platforms continue to be incredibly useful, even in the absence of a global shutdown. In fact, its growing popularity opened the opportunity to explore extending telehealth to far-flung, hard-to-reach, and underserved communities, such as people living in tribal areas, rural areas, and hilly terrain, where access to quality and timely healthcare access has always been a challenge.
The Indian Case for Telehealth
Various challenges to healthcare access in India exist, including but not limited to geographical barriers, resource constraints and social limitations.
India's vast and diverse geography creates a significant barrier to healthcare access, especially for its rural populations. Imagine a farmer in a remote village needing a specialist consultation – a virtual visit can connect them to an expert hundreds of kilometers away, saving time and money. Furthermore, in rural areas with constrained healthcare resources, telehealth allows efficient use of these limited resources.
Social limitations also often restrict access to healthcare in India. Women facing socio-cultural restrictions on movement can benefit significantly from telehealth. A consultation from home allows them to receive the care they need without compromising social norms. Similarly, daily wage workers, who often cannot afford to miss a day's work in fear of losing wages, can schedule consultations during breaks or evenings, avoiding lost income.
Telehealth consultations also allow for interactive sessions. Doctors can use visuals, share educational materials, and answer questions in real-time, fostering a better understanding of health conditions. This empowers patients to manage their health more effectively. Further, remote patient monitoring through telehealth enables continuous data collection on vital signs and other health parameters such as blood sugar or body weight. This allows for proper management of chronic conditions, with healthcare providers able to identify trends and intervene early to prevent complications. Telehealth can also lead to cost reductions for both patients and healthcare systems. Patients save on travel expenses and missed work time. Healthcare systems benefit from reduced overhead costs associated with in-person visits, allowing them to allocate resources more efficiently.
The tribulations with Telehealth
Despite its promise, integrating telehealth into India's healthcare system comes with certain challenges. Two primary challenges include the digital divide (limited network connection and a lack of smartphones) and data security. Limited internet connectivity and access to devices like smartphones and computers, especially in rural areas, can create a barrier to adopting telehealth services. Further, ensuring the confidentiality and security of patient data transmitted and stored electronically is paramount. Hence, robust cybersecurity measures and clear data privacy regulations are essential. Regulations help maintain quality standards, prevent fraud, and build trust in this rapidly growing healthcare field.
Call4Svasth - Moving from Physical to Phygital
Telehealth offers a promising solution to ease the burden on healthcare systems. It can manage heavy caseloads more efficiently and provide timely care to those who need it the most. Unlike traditional models, telecare prioritizes both medical needs and the social and emotional well-being of the communities it serves. Call4Svasth (C4S), an integrated "Phygital" platform offering hyper-localized, community-led helplines staffed by trained healthcare professionals, counselors and social protection officers, exemplifies this approach by going beyond medical consultations; it creates a comprehensive support system for underserved areas.
C4S, through its helpline, provides remote medical consultations and other primary health services. It also offers remote mental health counseling for mild cases to get by one’s day-to-day activities, along with assisting the community in navigating through government schemes and other documentation. At present, it is providing its service to communities across 8 Indian states and plans to scale up PAN India and beyond.
Here is Kiran’s (name changed) story, which further sheds light on the positive impact created by Call4Svasth - Kiran called the Call4Svasth helpline about a sensation of severe sinusitis, especially around her face. She was all alone and trusted the team to let them show her care and support during the pandemic. The continual follow-ups and check-ins helped Kiran to work through her loneliness and anxiousness. Further, even post-recovery, the team does mental and physical check-ins to ensure she has support and is not alone.
With proper regulations in place, telehealth in India is poised to bridge healthcare gaps, empower patients, and revolutionize access to quality medical services across the country.
For more information on our telecare work, visit https://call4svasthswasti.in/
Author - Kamalkoli Majumdar
Editors - Siddharth Chaitanya & Beautey Kumarri
