Growth in teleconsultations due to COVID-19 in India 2020, by type

According to a survey conducted between March and May 2020, the growth in the share of tele-ophthalmology had been tremendous with a 700 percent increase. Next in line were teleconsultations related to ENT and orthopedic issues with an increase of 600 and 400 percent respectively.

COVID-19 and digital India

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been one of the strongest triggers for thrusting forward digital healthcare solutions while strengthening the country’s current healthcare infrastructure. For instance, through higher government investment into public health systems, the promise of a universal health coverage system for all citizens would be imminent. The Ayushman Bharat scheme has been a response to this address the challenge of a democratic health care system. The adoption of digital health during the pandemic has been a respite for many ailed people, while also affording health care providers the opportunity of secure employment. A recent survey highlighted the efficacy, ease and willingness of Indians to booking teleconsultations.

Open digital health ecosystems (ODEs)

National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in August 2020 aims to develop the central hub necessary to support an integrated digital health infrastructure. The purpose of this is to bridge the gap between different stakeholders within the healthcare ecosystem. Recently, ODEs have been built to support this mission. Some of the central elements of such an ecosystem include digital health registries, a unique digital patient ID or Aadhaar, interoperability, and automated processes for claim settlement issues along with cashless transactions.