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.” […]
e-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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Internet “crystal ball” to predict heart disease
A newly developed online “crystal ball” purports to predict a person’s risk of developing illnesses such as heart disease. A user can input lifestyle and metabolic measuremenets such as height, weight and daily exercise levels. The “crystal ball” then takes the information and uses it to predict the likelihood of future illnesses and a range […]
Bill Gates looks to work with India on e-health
Bill Gates, American computing colossus and co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has announced his intention to work with the Indian government on social projects driven by information technology (IT) and e-health is one of them. Calling government spending on health in India “very inadequate”, the multi-billionaire extolled the virtues of e-health, saying […]