Chapter 4: Leveraging technology for transforming healthcare

• Digital health is a broad multidisciplinary framework that includes software, hardware, and services on a single platform.
• The use of technology interventions for providing healthcare solutions and empowering healthcare seekers and providers (including individuals, community or professional carers, doctors, the paramedical workforce, and the pharmaceutical and medical device industries) with a focus on better quality, higher efficiency, and easy access to healthcare services is referred to as digital health.
• E-health, telehealth, telemedicine, tele-consultations, health apps, and more terminology are being used.
• Data digitization (including patient data), data stacks, e-registries, electronic medical records (ENO), health informatics and analytics platforms, self-health monitors, and wearable health devices with sensors are all part of the broad scope of digital health.
• Newer fields like as biotechnology, genetics, and Al-assisted healthcare are also being addressed.
• Furthermore, the internet of Medical Things (loMT) has recently combined medical equipment and apps that connect to health IT systems that use a variety of networking technologies.

Health in the digital age

The use of technology interventions for providing healthcare solutions and empowering healthcare seekers and providers (including individuals, community or professional carers, doctors, the paramedical workforce, and the pharmaceutical and medical device industries) with a focus on better quality, higher efficiency, and easy access to healthcare services is also referred to as digital health.

Telemedicine

It is the delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for disease and injury diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, research and evaluation, and continuing education of health care providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and communities.

mHealth (mobile health)

• In numerous nations, including India, field-level healthcare workers employ handheld devices such as tablets with pre-loaded customised software applications.
• The Internet of Medical Things (loMT) has combined medical devices and applications that connect to health IT systems that use diverse networking technologies to improve communication between doctors and patients, to reduce the risk of exposure to contagious diseases, and to collect data at the user level.

Increase in the number of digital health interventions

• According to a Precedence Research analysis (May 2022), the global market size of digital health in 2022 is predicted to be USD 332.53 billion. It is expected to reach a height of roughly USD 1,694.21 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 19.4%.
• According to a recent NGO impact research, each tele-consultation at an Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness clinic saves an average of 21.58 km of travel time and more than Rs 941 in Out-of-Pocket-Expenditure (OOPE) on healthcare.
• Telehealth platforms and solutions have boosted equity by increasing reach and participation of marginalised and difficult-to-reach people and regions.
• Digital health solutions can aid in the effective management of chronic diseases
• such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer by offering personalised care plans, remotely monitoring patient health, and promoting patient participation.
• There would be more record keeping and documentation with telemedicine. This decreases the likelihood of losing out on doctor's and other health care advice.

India is leading the way, with its digital health effort driving transformation.

• Inclusion, multilingual platforms, scalability, and interoperability are some of the fundamental elements of the Government of India's digital initiatives. These have aided in the service of a population of over a billion people.
• The following are some of the projects that have gained widespread popularity, accompanied by several benefits.

1. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

• In September 2021, the Prime Minister will launch ABDM.
• It envisions a countrywide integrated digital health infrastructure and attempts to build the required backbone to support it.
• These digital roads will bridge the present gap between the various stakeholders in the healthcare industry.
• ABDM proposes to build a unified online platform by offering a wide range of data, information, and infrastructure services, all while leveraging open, interoperable, standards-based digital systems and ensuring the security, confidentiality, and privacy of health-related personal information.
• ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) is a major component of ABDM. The ABHA is a 14-digit number that will allow a recipient to be identified as a participant in India's digital healthcare ecosystem.

2. (CoWIN) system

• The Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network (CoWIN) system went live on January 16, 2021.
• It has served as the technological backbone for India's Covid-19 vaccination initiative, which has so far administered over 220 crore doses.

3.Tele-MANAS: Telemental Health Assistance and State Networking

• It went live on October 10, 2022.
• It aims to provide free telemental health services, such as counselling, integrated medical and psychosocial interventions via video consultations with mental health specialists, e-prescriptions, follow-up services, and links to in-person services, to remote areas and vulnerable populations in particular.
• The programme aims to provide specialised care by connecting Tele-MANAS with other services such as the national teleconsultation service, e-Sanjeevani, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, mental health professionals, Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres, and emergency psychiatric facilities.

4. Ni-kshay 2.0 Portal

• In September 2022, the President of India announced the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan- Ni-kshay 2.0, a digital platform for community assistance for tuberculosis patients.
• As of 3 March 2023, over 13.25 lakh TB patients were on TB therapy at the Ni-kshay portal, with 9.69 lakh TB patients consenting for adoption.

5. HTA (Health Technology Assessment)

• It is an institutional setup within the Department of Health Research (DHR) to assist the process of transparency and evidence-informed health decision-making.
• It assesses the appropriateness and cost effectiveness of existing and emerging health technology in the country.
• Since its inception in 2017, it has provided evidence-based decision making to the Union Health Ministry, Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY, and various states.