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The Legal Journal On Technology

The Digital healthcare Revolution

This Article is written by Ms. Nupur U Shah

(Student of Final Year B.L.S/LL.B, Pravin Gandhi College of Law (Mumbai University)



INTRODUCTION

Innovation is the name of the game in today’s world. Innovation means to renew which is derived from the Latin verb “Innovare”. In essence, the word has retained its meaning up until today. Innovation means to improve or to replace something, for example, a process, a product, or a service. In the context of companies, however, the term needs a definition because of the complex context of business.[1] Innovation in science and technology has grown manifold. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the most widespread use of technology in every field. The Governments of the world have welcomed AI in every field with open arms which has made work efficient and less time-consuming.


The digitization of the world began in the latter half of the 20th Century; it is a shift from mechanical and analog electronic technology to digital electronics. It is known as the Digital Revolution or The Third Industrial Revolution. People have become more addicted to mobile in the past decade and the excessive use of mobile has created a different world on the device which has made work easy with one click. The recent stats have shown that 50% of web browsing in the world occurs on mobile.[2] We have seen the growth of various kinds of apps in the past few years, from having only games to having movies to having your health taken care of. We have an app for everything and anything. Healthcare has been the highlight of this year. In situations where leaving home becomes difficult we all turn towards the digital world for help. Online lectures, online screening of movies, video calls, etc. have become our go-to.


DIGITAL HEALTH CARE

Healthcare is the efforts made to maintain or restore physical, mental, or emotional well-being especially by trained and licensed professionals.[3] Digital technology has been driving a revolution in the Health Care industry and has become an influencing factor in today’s age. Digital healthcare includes Mobile Health (M Health), Health information technology (IT), wearable devices, etc. Patients who are using innovation in health care have quite enjoyed it and are satisfied with the services provided. There has been a drastic shift from traditional methods to this new age method. Some numerous apps and websites are efficiently helping in different ways. A few help with online consultation with doctors and even help you get medicines at your doorsteps whereas other few help you connect to a doctor through them and help you keep a tab of your on-going consultation by either setting reminders or by making you fill feedback forms after each consultation. It also provides patients the power to manage their health by providing access to their health data from different sources such as doctor’s clinics, hospitals, laboratories, pharmacists, and even old medical records. But still in India people rely on the traditional methods of written prescriptions, manual processes, and paper files over using the new digital innovative methods, despite healthcare being one of the largest sectors in India and a preferred destination for medical tourism globally.

THE NEED FOR DIGITAL HEALTH

India had started the movement to make entire India a “Digital India” and it has worked quite well and people are opting to use digital methods in all parts of India. In places where there is hardly any transportation available and a person suddenly falls sick and the pain is unbearable and even after having the paracetamol you don’t feel good, technology acts as the savior, it helps you get the medical advice that one needs. These apps and various website specially curated to comfort the patients at distance or who are not able to reach the doctor get help through them, they either connect the patient to their in-house doctors or they help them connect to doctors who have collaborated with them by either providing their contact details or connecting through their platform on a video call or a phone call or through the chatbox. The required advice is given by the doctor and in some cases, they even get medicines delivered to the patient’s doorsteps.

Digital health is not only digital getting connected with doctors but we also have various apps that provide help with delivering medicines at your doorsteps and also wearables that track your health-related data and help you keep updated in on or the other way. On these apps, you need to upload your prescription and they deliver your required medicines within a few hours at your home. With the on-going situation where we were locked at our homes and at a point where it was difficult to get our hands on some of the medicines, such apps have helped a lot. Digital health care has given relief to a lot of people, old or young; Children leaving away from their parents can book medicines or doctor appointments through the app and get help for their ailing and stay updated as well. With wearables, it gets easier to store and track data for oneself. It is efficient to track your daily activity, your workout routines, etc.

THE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE

India is amongst the countries having the largest market for the Health care sector in terms of revenue and employment and is growing at a rapid pace. Also according to the Future Health Index (FHI), India is the leading country in the adoption of digital health technology with 76% of health care professionals using Digital Health Records (DHRs) for and in their practice. [4] Having said that India also ranks amongst the top countries in the adoption of Artificial Intelligence in the health care sector and these new digital tools and technologies have started making a good impact holding a great promise of delivering their service by improving efficiency and bettering patient care in near future. Tools that are helping improve the Digital Health Care system in India-

  • Telemedicine- It is the caring of patients when the patient and the provider are not physically present with each other. Modern technology has made it possible for both to communicate from their place of comfort and resolving the issue at a quicker pace. It is the most used technology.

  • Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) - It is a systematic collection of the data of patients and the data stored by the population in a digital format.

  • AI is and will play a major role in this sector as it helps to store and manage the data of patients efficiently and easily. It also has the power to transform everyday health management.

  • People are attracted to adopted things that have long durability and are not too expensive at the same time. Robotics plays a key role here by Endo Suturing, sensing, image guiding, manufacturing, and surveying strategies in surgical procedures.

  • Mobile Health Apps and Wearables have also changed the game and have become the one-stop destination and portable devices. These apps and wearables help you track your sleep, food intake, your workout routine, heart rate, etc. Mobile Apps also help with great assistance for preventing serious diseases.

  • Virtual Reality (VR) is the new age technology that allows one to have similar to or completely different experiences from the real world. VR in the Health care sector helps not only doctors but also the patients to see their internal body and allows them to be able to take through their surgery plans by virtually stepping into the 360-degree construction of their body.

Technology has become a huge part of our day to day life. It has made every little thing accessible to us at our comfort. Digital Health Care Industry is providing two-way communications and provides a great opportunity for patients to share their experience with the health professional and online reviews make a lot of difference which helps others make an informed decision before availing those services and spending their money on it. In an era where every single thing is focusing on entering AI, we can enjoy and take advantage of the digitalization of health care. In India, the introduction of Digitalization in the Health care sector has helped a lot as most of the Doctors are based in urban areas, and traveling takes a lot of time either by the patient or doctor because of the growing problem of traffic. Digital health care provides a good quality of the network for care so that it can reach and benefit maximum people no matter where they are. Proper education and information on Digital health care will help improving quality and accessible care a reality.

[1]--https://innolytics-innovation.com/what-is-innovation/ [2]J. Clement, 21st July 2020, Percentage of mobile device website traffic worldwide from 1st quarter 2015 to 2nd quarter 2020. (https://www.statista.com/statistics/277125/share-of-website-traffic-coming-from-mobile-devices/) [3] Merrian Webster dictionary (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/health%20care) [4] ETHealthworld, August 22nd 2019, 76% of healthcare professionals in India use digital health records: Report. (https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/health-it/76-of-healthcare-professionals-in-india-use-digital-health-records-report/70788518#:~:text=New%20Delhi%3A%20India%20is%20a,2019%20report%20unveiled%20on%20Wednesday.)

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