Accessing quality medical care, especially for serious conditions like cardiovascular diseases, is essential yet poses multiple challenges in India. The concentration of top specialists in urban areas leaves the rural population with limited access to critical medical expertise. Public hospitals often grapple with overcrowding, insufficient equipment, and a shortage of specialists, leading to prolonged wait times and compromised quality of treatment, particularly in rural areas. Moreover, the financial burden of travel expenses to medical centers for consultations and treatments further exacerbates these challenges, potentially delaying diagnosis and increasing the risks associated with CVD.
Digital Healthcare: A Solution to Accessible Healthcare
Non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), are a significant cause of mortality in India, responsible for 60% of adult deaths according to the World Heart Federation. Among these, CVDs alone account for 26%.
The e-health market is poised to grow to US$ 10.6 billion by 2025. According to recent data presented to the Lok Sabha by the Minister of Health & Family Welfare, India’s doctor-to-population ratio stands at 1:854, factoring in both allopathic and AYUSH practitioners. With a burgeoning private healthcare sector, India is rapidly advancing its medical infrastructure.
Digital healthcare, including telehealth services, emerges as a crucial solution. It facilitates early detection and preventive measures for cardiac diseases, effectively bridging the gap in healthcare accessibility between top specialists and patients across India. The adoption of virtual care, including teleconsultations, telepathology, teleradiology, and e-pharmacies, is gaining momentum, enhancing specialist care and healthcare accessibility across the country.
How Digital Healthcare Enhances Cardiac Care?
Digital healthcare has bolstered India’s healthcare system, contributing significantly to advancements in cardiac care in the following ways:
- Digital healthcare enhances cardiac care by enabling regular checkups through mobile apps and online consultations with specialists. This approach helps patients stay informed about any cardiac risks and allows for continuous monitoring of vital signs like blood pressure and weight and doctors can track progress effectively and communicate more seamlessly.
- Travel costs such as transportation and lodging can be expensive. Digital healthcare reduces these expenses, making healthcare more affordable. It eliminates the need to commute or take time off work for appointments. Consultations and follow-ups can now be done conveniently from home. This benefits people in remote areas or with mobility challenges, allowing them to receive.
- High-quality cardiac care from specialists they might not otherwise access easily. However, certain conditions still necessitate in-person examinations or procedures that cannot be conducted remotely. It prioritizes efficiency, accuracy, reliability, and affordability for people living in rural areas.
- Artificial intelligence-driven auto interpretation and dashboard access, coupled with devices such as IoT-enabled ECG, aid in cardiac screening. These devices include GPS for location tracking, enabling real-time data monitoring. This technology can even alert doctors to abnormal readings promptly, facilitating early intervention and preventing complications. Online consultations based on remote monitoring data further reduce the need for unnecessary in-person visits, streamlining patient care.
- Preventing and treating cardiac issues becomes more accessible through online check-ins with specialists. By exchanging data and communicating online, any risks can be quickly identified and addressed, allowing for early intervention and adjustments to treatment plans. This approach enhances the effectiveness of treatments and medical interventions, leading to improved health outcomes.
Connecting with the Best Specialists
In India, technological developments are improving access to healthcare. Compared to in-person consultations, the new technology provides more affordable options, enabling specialists to provide high-quality care to a larger patient base, particularly those with financial constraints. The following are some ways that these advancements aid in enhancing communication and cardiac care:
- Cloud computing allows patients to exchange their medical information online, improving cardiac care.
- Specialists can access the data shared online for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning, overcoming geographical barriers.
- The cloud data ensures the safety, efficiency, and reliability of health data storage for patients and doctors, as well as how efficient it is to track and monitor cardiac health.
- More cardiac screening access is made possible, particularly in rural locations, by technology such as remote monitoring devices and Teleconsultation.
- Quick reporting through online platforms or medical devices prompts timely prevention efforts, enhancing overall cardiac health management.
Additionally, connecting with top specialists online is much simpler compared to traditional offline methods, which can be time-consuming, especially in emergency cardiac situations. Online networks of specialists facilitate quicker diagnosis and treatment, preventing various cardiac conditions from escalating into serious issues.
Online platforms and new-age devices have made cardiac care accessible to all, allowing patients to reach the best specialists according to their heart condition. Indian medical service consumers are becoming more conscious about their healthcare upkeep. Rising income levels, an aging population, growing health awareness, and a shift towards preventive healthcare are expected to boost the demand for healthcare services in the future. Online healthcare platforms like Heartnet India are working towards a “Healthy Heart for All” by providing quality cardiac care in urban and semi-urban areas across India, supported by strong technology and clinical expertise. The combined efforts of private and government support are making healthcare facilities more accessible, enhancing care quality and reach.
