In late March, the Government elected to impose a wholescale lockdown in India to facilitate physical distancing. Similar measures are being enacted worldwide. While lockdown is being eased in many parts of the country, a return to normalcy seems a way off. One effect of the pandemic and ensuing physical distancing measures researchers are flagging […]
Technology
Telehealth, pandemic, and privacy
In the era of the coronavirus pandemic, telehealth has become a valuable tool for healthcare providers and patients alike – allowing consultations to be had even during a period of stringent lockdown. India is no exception – as if to underscore this point, the Delhi government announced earlier this week free online consultations for the […]
Digital health tie-up between AIIMS Mangalagiri and IIT-Madras
In the pursuit of affordable digital health-based solutions to problems facing Indian healthcare, the All India Institute of Sciences (AIIMS) in Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh and the India Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras in Chennai, Tamil Nadu have announced in recent weeks a collaboration. “The strengths that IIT-Madras brings with depth in many technological fields such […]
Kerala’s startups touted for their role in cancer care
Health minister K. K. Shailaja has emphasised the importance of Kerala’s startups in the state’s healthcare system. Speaking at a symposium jointly organised by the Cochin Cancer Research Centre and Kerala Startup Mission, Shailaja touted the role of Kerala’s startups in care for diseases such as cancer. “We at the ministry keep getting requests for […]
A digital health blueprint for universal healthcare
Dr Harsh Vardhan has urged stakeholders to work towards implementing India’s digital health blueprint in order to facilitate a digital health economy. “[The] Government of India is committed to ensuring high quality healthcare, accessible to all upto the last mile,” said Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Science and Technology. “The digital […]
Nanopharmaceuticals: A regulatory framework
The Centre has moved to lay down the law on nanopharmaceuticals, with the release of guidelines at the end of last week to promote them and ensure they are regulated on par with other medicines and medical products. The ‘Guidelines for Evaluation of Nanopharmaceuticals in India’ were jointly prepared by the Department of Biotechnology under […]
Start-ups get a shoutout from Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has touted the role of start-ups in India’s economy – and highlighted their value as a tool for improving public health. “Today, India is aspiring to become a $5 trillion economy,” the Prime Minister said whilst speaking at the 56th convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) in Chennai. “Your […]
Google and India to work together on a digital society
Google and India will cooperate to create a ‘Digital India’ – with healthcare playing a role. The initiative – a collaboration announced by the internet giant and the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) – will reach out to students of engineering to create digital technology solutions to pressing social issues, including health. […]
Digital health records are being used more and more. Are they secure?
Digital health records are increasingly popular among healthcare professionals, with recent data suggesting 76 percent of practitioners use them. This was according to a report published by Royal Phillips, a global health technology company which stated “digital health technology is a pivotal pillar in delivering value-based care across the healthcare continuum in India.” This trend […]
Digital health blueprint announced by Dr Vardhan
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.” […]