The government will utilise digital health to expand access to healthcare and achieve universal health coverage (UHC), Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has pledged. The National Digital Health Blueprint, which Vardhan announced in New Delhi yesterday, will serve to implement a National Digital Health Ecosystem with the goal of “[establishing] state-of-the-art digital health systems.” […]
digital health
AI in healthcare: The coming expansion
The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is one of the most significant trends to have emerged in digital health in recent years. New projections suggest the sector can expect significant growth in the next few years. By 2026, forecasters have said AI-based healthcare will be worth US$8 billion – a growth of 49.7 […]
Is online quackery making you sick?
Many people who fall ill may turn to the internet to check their symptoms. But doctors are warning that getting yourself checked out online could be damaging to health. Medicos in Patna have warned that online check-ups, whilst convenient, could lead to risky behaviour like self-medication if individuals are misdiagnosed. “There can be many diseases […]
Online pharmacies: Opportunities for future growth but concerns linger
By 2023, India’s online pharmacies will become a US$2.7 billion market according to the latest growth forecasts – highlighting a major market opportunity in the country’s healthcare sector. “India is adapting to e-commerce rapidly, with mobile-first consumer behavior and improving digital payments infrastructure,” says Ankur Pahwa, who is a partner and national leader in e-commerce […]
Wellthy: Indian AI to step into the diabetes field
Diabetes, along with noncommunicable diseases diseases (NCDs) as a whole, are the foremost health concern in India. NCDs account for 61 percent of deaths in India; diabetes, meanwhile, is considered the country’s fastest-growing disease. Could Indian startups, through the use of artificial intelligence (AI), provide potential solutions? Wellthy is among a growing trend of startups […]
Telemedicine: Bridging the accessibility gap?
When it comes to dispensing healthcare, telemedicine has emerged as an innovative method of bridging the accessibility gap. Start-ups are leading the way. One such enterprise, Mfine, has just collected a massive cash injection to further its efforts to expand access to telemedicine services. It is the latest e-health development in India, suggesting a digital […]
High Court walks back on e-pharmacy sales
A ban on online medicines sales has been stayed by the Madras High Court until it makes a final decision on the matter. This means consumers can still buy medicines online – at least for now. E-pharmacy sales were subject to a blanket ban by the Court on Monday, December 17th. The Court’s ruling followed […]
Why you can’t buy medicines online – at least for now
Court rulings have halted the e-pharmacy market in India – at least until January. Online sales of medicines are now subject to a blanket ban until clearer regulations are set forth by the Centre, the Madras High Court ordered Monday, December 17th. The Centre has time only until January 31st to issue these guidelines. The […]
Regulate telemedicine, doctors say
Telemedicine can provide a useful route for patients getting a consultation who otherwise face difficulty in seeing a doctor. However, the country’s apex doctors’ network has called for clear guidelines on the practise amidst legal uncertainty following a recent court case. Two doctors were found culpable by the Bombay High Court (BHC) in the death […]
Simulations to track and predict the spread of HIV
The spread of HIV can be both accurately tracked and predicted using computer simulations according to a study published in Nature Microbiology. The news could help India build on its success in reducing rates of HIV transmission. New HIV infections in the country fell from 120,000 in 2010 to 88,000 in 2017. AIDS-related deaths fell […]