DIGITAL HEALTHCARE 2024-INDIA

Background

India’s healthcare system is unique- with its skilled doctors, advanced technologies, and lower costs compared to countries like the US. The government is working to improve healthcare through initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and the Digital India Campaign, launched in 2015, which are driving a major digital transformation in the sector. Over the past decade, internet penetration in India has jumped from 13.5% in 2014 to 52.4% in 2024, with millions of users in both urban and rural areas. This digital shift is moving healthcare from traditional method to a more tech-driven approach.

Digital health in India includes tools the following tools-

·      Chatbots

·      History-taking apps Speech recognition

·      Electronic health records

·      Remote monitoring and virtual consultations.

·      Technologies like AI, blockchain, augmented and virtual reality, clinical decision support systems.

·      Mobile health apps

·      Wearables and telehealth solutions.

These innovations aim to tackle challenges like limited access in rural areas, infrastructure issues, and the rising burden of non-communicable diseases.

However, there are still significant challenges in adopting digital health solutions. Resistance is common among both patients and healthcare providers. There’s a lack of standardized electronic health record systems, weak network coverage, and not everyone has a smartphone. Financial constraints and low digital literacy among healthcare providers add to the hurdles. Concerns about missing physical exams, data accuracy, ethical issues, and low public health spending also complicate the adoption process. Despite these challenges, digital health has great potential in India, but addressing these barriers is crucial to fully realizing its benefits.

Digital Healthcare 2024-an Indian perspective

Wearables, Remote monitoring and Telehealth

Remote patient monitoring is increasingly integrating into mainstream healthcare through devices like smartwatches, fitness trackers, and connected inhalers, which track health metrics such as heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and medication usage. Wearable devices, including biosensors, smart thermometers, ECG monitors, and blood pressure monitors, offer valuable insights into patient health, allowing for continuous monitoring and timely interventions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, wearable biosensors played a crucial role in tracking symptoms and managing patient data, helping medical staff reduce exposure and provide targeted care. Telehealth gained popularity among healthcare providers and patients during the pandemic, utilizing video conferencing technology to offer virtual consultations, prescribe medications, and conduct follow-up visits. Integral to this virtual care was the adoption of secure online healthcare portals, which allowed providers and patients to track treatments, store health records, and integrate data from wearable devices or clinic visits.

Despite the promising opportunities, successful implementation faces several key challenges, such as unequal digital access and varying levels of digital literacy across the country. While internet users in rural India now outnumber those in urban areas, only 24% of the rural population has access to the internet compared to 66% in urban areas. Moreover, quality healthcare services remain concentrated in urban centers. Following the pandemic, stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem largely reverted to traditional models of healthcare delivery. As a result, the core issue of accessibility, which remote monitoring aims to address, remains unresolved.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI in digital health assists in analyzing MRI, CT and Xray scans, extracting insights from patient records, and supporting clinical decision-making. It also manages administrative tasks, processes large volumes of data, and offers insights to improve healthcare outcomes.

The adoption of AI in India’s healthcare system has been gradual, primarily due to the absence of a comprehensive policy and regulatory framework. Although India lacks developed AI regulations for healthcare, efforts are underway to address this shortfall. Regulations like the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, DISHA Act 2023 are expected address concerns regarding data security, storage and ethical use of AI in healthcare.

mHealth

mHealth is one of the most important aspects of digital health, especially in urban India. Mobile health and wellness apps provide personalized fitness tracking, nutritional advice, and mental health support, encouraging preventive care. Additionally, mHealth enables patients to conveniently manage their medications and prescriptions. Thus, mHealth provides a personalized healthcare experience to the evolved and proactive patients of urban India.

One of the major challenges in this area is the absence of standardized data formats and protocols, which hinders seamless communication between different systems. In India, players in this space also face difficulties in designing sustainable business models. Large diagnostic chains and hospitals are often reluctant to share data and integrate with the ABDM system due to a perceived lack of unique value. Additionally, patient awareness of such tools is generally low, particularly in rural areas, where healthcare remains largely traditional and doctor centric.

 Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR and VR)

In medical training, AR overlays digital information onto the real world, creating realistic simulations for surgeries and enhancing learning, while VR offers fully immersive environments useful for pain management during procedures and rehabilitation. Both technologies aid surgical planning by providing detailed 3D views, improving professional education, and enhancing patient care through reduced pain and increased engagement in rehab. AR and VR bring immersive, interactive experiences that elevate medical operations, healthcare education, and patient experiences.

EMR, EHR and Blockchain

Medical records documentation in India has evolved from paper-based to digital systems in large hospitals, especially in urban cities. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) improve population health management and support data-driven decisions by optimizing clinical workflows, increasing patient access to their health information, and enhancing provider communication. Advanced technologies like blockchain are applied to EHR systems to maintain security and authenticity of data.

It was announced in July 2024 that the NABH is set to launch standards for EMR/HIS systems. These standards aim to streamline and unify systems by requiring products to undergo evaluation and approval by the National Health Authority before they can receive NABH certification.

Government of India-Digital Health focus

Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA)

The ABHA number is a unique 14-digit identifier that links all health records of an individual, facilitating seamless access and sharing of health data across different healthcare providers. It aims to create a unified digital health ecosystem, promoting digitization and improving healthcare delivery. As of 2024, 66,37,12,321 ABH accounts are created in India. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat are the leading states for creation of ABHA ids.

Unified Health Interface (UHI)

The Unified Health Interface (UHI) is a network of open protocols designed to facilitate interoperability among various health services. It integrates Health Management Information Systems (HMIS), Laboratory Management Information Systems (LMIS), Personal Health Records (PHR), connector apps, health-tech platforms, and insurance platforms. As part of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), the UHI leverages the Health Facility Registry (HFR) and Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR) established by the government. This infrastructure enables patients to discover, book, conduct, and pay for healthcare services through any application of their choice, ensuring a seamless end-to-end experience. As of 2024, 95,251 facilities across India are using ABDM-enabled software.

NABH EMR Standards

The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) has developed standards for Hospital Information Systems (HIS) and Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems. These standards ensure quality and interoperability across platforms, fostering a more efficient and technologically advanced healthcare ecosystem. The standards are aligned with both NABH Core standards and NABH Digital Health Standards for Hospitals.

NABH Digital Health Standards

These standards provide a structured roadmap for hospitals in India to adopt digital health technologies and align with global best practices. They aim to improve healthcare quality and patient safety by defining clinical and operational standards for digital health services.

Health Programmes Initiatives Specific to Digital Health

Several government initiatives under the Digital India programme have significantly impacted the healthcare sector:

·      Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): Aims to create a national digital health ecosystem that supports universal health coverage.

·      CoWIN App: Played a crucial role in the COVID-19 vaccination drive.

·      Aarogya Setu: Transformed into a National Health App, providing a range of digital health services.

·      e-Sanjeevani: A telemedicine service that offers remote consultations.

These initiatives bridge the gap among different stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem, making healthcare services more accessible and efficient.

Please visit ABDM Insights India 2024 | Tableau Public for insights on ABDM adoption and usage across India as of August 2024.

Thus, India's digital health landscape is undergoing a major transformation, fuelled by the rise of internet access, proactive government initiatives, and cutting-edge technologies like AI, mHealth, wearables, and AR/VR.

While these advancements offer tremendous potential to enhance healthcare access and quality, there are still hurdles to overcome, including gaps in digital literacy, regulatory challenges, and infrastructure issues. To overcome these challenges, few key recommendations could be as follows-

1.     Promotion of Digital Literacy: To bridge the digital divide, targeted programs that educate both healthcare providers and patients on using digital health tools should be implemented, especially in rural areas. Initiatives could include training sessions, easy-to-understand guides, and community outreach programs to build confidence and familiarity with technology.

2.     Standardization of Data Protocols: The government and health-tech companies should collaborate to establish standardized data formats and protocols, enabling smoother integration across various digital health platforms. This can enhance interoperability, improve data sharing, and create a more cohesive healthcare ecosystem.

3.     Encouragement Public-Private Partnerships: Leveraging the strengths of both public institutions and private tech companies can drive innovation and expand the reach of digital health solutions. Public-private partnerships can also help scale successful pilot projects and ensure that digital health tools are affordable and accessible.

4.     Focusing on Value-Based Adoption: Encourage healthcare providers and institutions to shift from volume-based to value-based care models where digital tools are used to enhance patient outcomes and experience. Demonstrating the tangible benefits of digital health in improving care efficiency and patient satisfaction can drive wider acceptance among skeptics.

5.     Creation of more awareness: The government should invest in creating awareness about the Digital Health Incentive scheme under ABDM. The marketing campaigns should clearly communicate how the scheme works, the eligibility criteria, and the benefits of enrolling, such as financial incentives for adopting digital health solutions like Electronic Health Records (EHR) and telemedicine services.

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