By Srinath Rao, Senior Vice President, CitiusTech
The landscape of healthcare in India today is undergoing a transformational shift. While numerous aspects of its function remain conventional, a substantial chunk of it is on the path of digitalization.
In the coming decade, healthcare delivery is poised to be driven by advancements in the field of tech, alongside mass adoption of digital health by service providers as well as patients. India is expected to see an 80% increase in investment in digital healthcare tools by 2027. Here are some domains that are propelling Indian healthcare towards digital transformation.
Rise of telemedicine and virtual consultations:
Ever since a 300% rise witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine in India has gained prominence. India’s telemedicine market was valued at $1.10 billion in 2022 and is estimated to touch $5.15 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.2%.
Today, telemedicine is bridging the gap between healthcare professionals and patients residing in remote areas, enabling timely consultations and reducing financial and logistical burdens associated with long-distance travel. Indian government initiatives such as e-Sanjeevani are allowing access to quality health services remotely, via their smartphone, even in rural parts of the nation.
Simultaneously, with the advancement of IoT devices, remote patient monitoring, home-based healthcare delivery, and mobile health apps are gaining traction and are further shifting care towards at-home advanced healthcare services.
GenAI-powered Predictive healthcare with analytics
Digitization of health records and increasing amounts of health data collected by IoT and smart devices created a wealth of opportunities for predictive modelling and risk assessment. Leveraging the power of generative AI (GenAI), the Indian healthcare system is empowered to gain crucial insights from vast amounts of patient data.
GenAI-powered predictive analytics can identify individuals at high risk for diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and cancer, providing personalised treatment plans based on genetic, lifestyle, and clinical information. It can also help in delivering adaptive care, with generative AI analysing genetic data to determine markers related to specific diseases, reaction to medications and treatments etc.
Moreover, with the help of cutting-edge algorithms and ML models, GenAI is significantly reducing the time and cost (as high as 60%) associated with drug discovery by analysing molecular structures and predicting potential drug candidates.
Innovative interventions enhancing patient outcomes
Technological shifts are opening opportunities for the life sciences industry to innovate and develop new products and services. Core technologies such as robotics are helping simplify complex surgical procedures, while also freeing up doctor’s schedules to better focus on their patients. Today there are nearly 24 startups in India that specialize in robotics in healthcare – developing surgical robots, wearable robots for rehabilitation as well as AI-based assistive robots for surgeries. Moreover, the adoption of robotics solutions for surgeries is expected to not just be limited to large private hospitals, but also smaller public hospitals as costs become more competitive with more domestic alternatives.
Alternatively, medical professionals are more efficiently scaling the delivery of high-quality patient care using cloud computing. Digitalization has enabled a more equitable relationship between medical professionals and patients, with applications including medical information resources, clinical assistance, and tracking the supply of pharmaceuticals and vaccinations.
EHR getting more prevalent
EHRs are slowly but steadily gaining momentum in India. In 2021, the Indian electronic health record (EHR) market was valued at $211.059 million in 2021 and is poised to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.13% from 2023 to 2028, reaching $320.069 million.
With their robust encryption, they’re known to enhance the overall security of patient data that are otherwise vulnerable to theft, physical damage, exposure, and maintain their confidentiality. They help drive better coordination and collaboration across healthcare providers for patient care and other purposes.
In fact, the Indian government has launched initiatives like the Ayushmaan Bharat Digital Mission that will connect the digital health solutions of hospitals across the country. The mission aims to not only make the processes of hospitals simplified but also increase ease of living.
AI helping assess mental health
With the advancements in generative AI, large language models (LLMs) and natural language processing (NLP), AI can interact and frame sentences just like humans. We’ve seen this reach the next level with Chat GPT’s GPT 4o, where vocal interactions have intonation and expressions like an actual individual on the other end. If blended with a healthcare provider’s customer support for offering accurate information, empathetically, eventually reducing the burden on human workforce.
Additionally, a system like this could also help in delivering initial mental health support, with its ability in crafting natural and engaging conversations, while also offering guidance and resources based on the user’s inputs.
In conclusion, the Indian healthcare system is poised for a significant transformation driven by technological advancements, government initiatives, and the growing demand for accessible and quality healthcare services.
From telemedicine to EHRs, innovative technologies are reshaping the way healthcare is delivered and experienced across the country. This shift towards digital health solutions is not only enhancing patient care but also revolutionising the entire healthcare ecosystem.
With India embracing these advancements, the future of its healthcare system is brighter than ever – Improved outcomes, increased accessibility, and more personalised approaches to wellness are just some of the benefits that these digital transformations are expected to bring.
As the nation continues to invest in and adopt these cutting-edge technologies, the stage is set for a healthier, more connected society where quality care is within reach for all.