In the age of digital technology, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission aims to infuse innovation into the healthcare sector with the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA).
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ABHA is a unique health account that helps you to digitally manage your and your family’s health. It enables every citizen with seamless access to healthcare services, such as doctors, hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, pharmacies and other healthcare facilities within a digital ecosystem.
One of the most beneficial features of the ABDM is its leveraging of telemedicine to enable healthcare access to Indians across all sectors of society.
What is telemedicine?
Telemedicine or telehealth is the remote delivery of healthcare services through information technology and telecommunications. It enables people to access various healthcare services, such as medical exams and doctor consultations, and also allows healthcare providers to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients without the need for an in-person visit.
In a vast and socially diverse country like India, telemedicine can help bridge the gaps in healthcare to bring remote access to healthcare services for all. It is especially beneficial to people living in rural areas or those who are far away from a doctor or hospital, and also to people with limited mobility.
Types of Telemedicine:
Telemedicine falls into three main categories:
- Real-time telemedicine (telehealth) – Enables real-time doctor consultations via video conferencing, instead of an in-person doctor’s visit.
- Remote patient-monitoring – Allows healthcare providers to monitor patients remotely through the use of mobile devices that collect data regarding key vitals, health conditions, blood pressure, temperature, etc.
- Store-and-Forward Telemedicine – Also known as asynchronous telemedicine, it allows healthcare providers to share a patient’s medical information such as lab reports and other records with other healthcare providers at another location.
Telemedicine in India
Prior to the pandemic, telemedicine in India was not widely utilized. With a burgeoning population and recent numbers putting the doctor-patient ratio at 1:834, the scope of telemedicine to ease this burden is tremendous.
The pandemic and its consequent lockdown, however, provided the impetus for digital innovation in several sectors, including healthcare. Many policies and procedures such as the government’s Telemedicine Practice Guidelines of March 2020 were put in place to build the infrastructure for telemedicine. The rise of HealthTech and widening digital penetration across the country helped to pave the way for telemedicine to become part of mainstream healthcare services.
During a time of social distancing, telemedicine has been beneficial in managing chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and bronchial asthma. Also, because people suffering from these conditions are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, telemedicine has provided a safe and effective alternative to in-person care. Today, telemedicine in India is poised to completely transform the way healthcare is delivered.
ABDM – A Pioneer of Telemedicine in India
With ABDM and its partner platforms/apps such as JioHealthHub, telemedicine will bring cost-effective, time-saving and convenient access to healthcare for all citizens. Telemedicine will also open up numerous opportunities for healthcare providers as it allows them to explore many avenues for patient care and health management.
Through the ease of a mobile device, users can take control of their health and fitness, and make informed decisions towards leading healthier lives. In the age of digital technology, telemedicine will be a transformative force that will drive innovation in India’s healthcare sector and lead it into the 21st century.
To know more about ABDM and ABHA click here
Source:
Sudha Joshi Betarbet
Health Editor