eHealth and Telemedicine in India: An Overview on the Health Care Need of the People

Abstract

We have reached far ahead today when it comes to the telemedicine technology which was first installed in Boston in 1967 that made a regular interaction between physicians and patients at distant locations. Being a developing and lower-middle income country, currently India faces shortage of doctors, nurses & midwives, and healthcare infrastructure. Around 70% of Indian population lives in remote and rural villages lacking access to basic healthcare facilities. In such situations telemedicine plays a great role in providing quality and affordable healthcare to India’s poorest people, and is expected to bridge the rural-urban health divide. Whether telemedicine technology meets its objective to provide adequate healthcare services to the poor remote and rural population is matter of great concern. This article aims to provide an overview on this issue.

Page Number : 25-36
Keywords
Telemedicine, eHealth, mHealth, Healthcare, GRAMSAT, EduSat, OncoNet
DOI Number
https://doi.org/10.15415/jmrh.2020.62004
Authors
Raj Kishor Kustwar, Suman Ray

References

Acharya, R.V., & Rai, J.J. (2016). Evaluation of patient and doctor perception toward the use of telemedicine in Apollo Tele Health Services, India. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 5(4), 798-803. https://doi.org/10.4103/2249-4863.201174
Apollo Telemedicine Network Foundation (ATNF) report 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2019 from http://healthmarketinnovations.org/sites/default/files/Apollo%20Case%20Study.pdf
Arivanandan, M. (2016). Telemedicine Programme in Rural Health Care System of India. Indian Journal of Applied Research, 6(3), 458-461.
Bali, S., Gupta, A., Khan, A., & Pakhare, A. (2016). Evaluation of telemedicine centres in Madhya Pradesh, Central India. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 22(3), 183-188. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X15593450
Boringi, M., Waghray, S., Lavanya, R., Babu, D.B.G., Badam, R.K., Harsha, N., Garlapati, K., & Chavva, S. (2015). Knowledge and Awareness of Teledentistry among Dental Professionals–A Cross Sectional Study. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 9(8), ZC41-ZC44. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2015/13303.6320
Chandwani, R.K., & Dwivedi, Y.K. (2015). Telemedicine in India: current state, challenges and opportunities. Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, 9(4), 393-400. https://doi.org/10.1108/TG-07-2015-0029
CSC Annual Report 2015-16. Retrieved January 10, 2019 from https://www.csc.gov.in/
Electronic Health Record (EHR) standards for India. Retrieved May 21, 2019 from https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/17739294021483341357_1.pdf
Ganapathy, K. (2014). Telehealth in India: the Apollo contribution and an overview. Apollo Medicine, 11(3), 201-207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apme.2014.07.014
Ganapathy, K., Chawdhry, V., Premanand, S., Sarma, A., Chandralekha, J., Kumar, K.Y., Kumar, S., & Guleri, S. (2016). Telemedicine in the Himalayas: Operational Challenges-A Preliminary Report. Telemedicine and e-Health, 22(10), 821-835. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2015.0249
Ganapathy, K., Alagappan, D., Rajakumar, H., Dhanapal, B., Subbu, G.R., Nukala, L., Premanand, S., Veerla, K.M., Kumar, S. & Thaploo, V. (2018). Tele-Emergency Services in the Himalayas. Telemedicine and e-Health, 22(5), 380-390. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2018.0027
Gogia, S.B., Maeder, A., Mars, M., Hartvigsen, G., Basu, A., & Abbott, P. (2016). Unintended Consequences of Tele Health and their Possible Solutions. Yearbook of Medical Informatics, 25(1) 41-46. https://doi.org/10.15265/IY-2016-012
Health and telemedicine web portals of different state governments, Government of India. Retrieved January 15, 2019 from https://www.nhp.gov.in/
Hemalatha, S. (2015). E Learning in Health Education – Feasibility, Pros and Cons. International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science and Software Engineering, 25(4), 372-380.
Aravind Eye Care System Web Portal. Available on: http://www.aravind.org/. (Last accessed on 20/05/2019).
AskApollo Web Portal. Available on: https://www.askapollo.com/. (Last accessed on 17/05/2019).
Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) Web Portal. Directorate General of Health Services. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Government of India. Available on: https://cdsco.gov.in/opencms/opencms/en/Home/. (Last accessed on 20/05/2019).
Health Management Information System (HMIS) Web Portal. Available on: https://data.gov.in/keywords/health-management-information-system. (Last accessed on 21/05/2019).
Doctor INSTA Web Portal. Available on: https://www.doctorinsta.com/ (Last accessed on 17/05/ 2019).
India Vision Institute Web Portal. Available on: http://www.indiavisioninstitute.org (Last accessed on 20/05/ 2019).
Lybrate Web Portal. Available on: (Last accessed on 17/05/2019).
mDiabetes Mobile App. Available on: http://mdiabetes.nhp.gov.in/ (Last accessed on 21/05/2019).
Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) Web Portal. Available on: https://www.nhp.gov.in/integrated_health_information_program_mtl (Last accessed on 21/05/2019).
Vaccine Tracker (Indradhanush Immunisation) Mobile App. Available on: https://www.nhp.gov.in/missionindradhanush1_pg (Last accessed on 21/05/2019).
India Fights Dengue Mobile App. Available on: https://www.nhp.gov.in/mobile-app-dengue (Last accessed on21/05/2019).
Mera Aspatal Mobile App. Available on: https://www.nhp.gov.in/mobile-mera-aspataal (Last accessed on 21/05/2019).
Swasthya Bharat Mobile App. Available on: https://www.nhp.gov.in/nhp-swasth-bharat_pg (Last accessed on 21/05/2019).
mCessation (Quit tobacco) Mobile App. Available on: https://www.nhp.gov.in/quit-tobacco (Last accessed on 21/05/ 2019).
National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (Nikshay Web Portal). Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Government of India. Available on: https://nikshay.in/ (Last accessed on 21/05/2019).
Concept Note on National Telemedicine Network (NTN), Government of India. Available on: http://nmcn.in/pdf/Final%20Concept%20Note%20of%20National%20Telemedicine%20Network.pdf. (Lastaccessed on 17/05/2019).
National Telemedicine portal, Telemedicine Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Available on: http://nmcn.in/rrcnorth/about.php (Last accessed on 20/05/ 2019).
National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) Web Portal. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Government of India. Available on: https://www.notto.gov.in/ (Last accessed on 20/05/2019).
KKMSG Web Portal, National Rural Health Mission. Available on: http://nrhm-mcts.nic.in/KKMSG.aspx (Last accessed on 21/05/2019).
Online Registration System Web Portal. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Government of India. Available on: http://ors.gov.in/index.html. (Last accessed on 20/05/2019).
Portea Web Portal. Available on: https://www.portea.com/ (Last accessed on 17/05/2019).
Practo Web Portal. Available on: https://www.practo.com/ (Last accessed on 17/05/2019).
Televital- Enhancing the Quality of Life, Web Portal. Available on: http://www.televital.com/ (Last accessed on 17/05/2019). ANMOL Web Portal, United Nations Children’s Fund. Available on: http://unicef.in/Story/1183/ANMOLANMs-Online (Last accessed on 21/05/2019).
Venu Eye Institute & Research Center Web Portal. Available on: http://www.venueyeinstitute.org/content/achievements (Last accessed on 20/05/2019).
Welcare Telemedicine Web Portal. Available on: http://welcaretelemed.com/ (Last accessed on 20/05/2019).
Jain, N., Singh, H., Koolwal, G.D., Kumar, S., & Gupta, A. (2015). Opportunities and barriers in service delivery through mobile phones (mHealth) for Severe Mental Illnesses in Rajasthan, India: a multi-site study. Asian journal of psychiatry, 14, 31-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2015.01.008
Jarosławski, S., & Saberwal, G. (2014). In eHealth in India today, the nature of work, the challenges and the finances: an interview-based study. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 14(1), 1-12.https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6947-14-1
Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF). Retrieved May 20, 2019, from https://www.mdrf.in/telemedicine.html
Mathur, P., Srivastava, S., Lalchandani, A., & Mehta, J.L. (2017). Evolving role of telemedicine in health caredelivery in India. Primary Health Care, 7, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-1079.1000260
Meher, S.K. & Kant, S. (2014). Awareness and attitudes of geriatric patients towards telemedicine in India. Gerontechnology, 13(2), 262. https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2014.13.02.391.00
Meher, S.K., Tyagi, R.S. & Chaudhry, T. (2009). Awareness and attitudes to telemedicine among doctors and patients in India. Journal of Telemedicine & Telecare, 15(3), 139-141. https://doi.org/10.1258/jtt.2009.003011
Mishra, S.K., Singh, I.P., & Chand, R.D. (2012). Current status of telemedicine network in India and future perspective. Proceedings of the Asia-Pacific Advanced Network, 32, 151-163. https://doi.org/10.7125/APAN.32.19
Mohanan, M., Babiarz, K.S., Goldhaber-Fiebert, J.D., Miller, G., & Vera-Hernández, M. (2016). Effect of a large-scale social franchising and telemedicine program on childhood diarrhea and pneumonia outcomes in India. Health Affairs, 35(10), 1800-1809. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0481
MukhyaMantri Aarogya Kendramulu. Retrieved May 20, 2019, from http://www.euphc-ap-gov.in/Default.
MukhyaMantri e-Eye Kendram. Retrieved May 20, 2019, from http://enethraap.phc.ind.in/cmdashboard/.
National Health portal, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Retrieved May 20, 2019 from https://www.nhp.gov.in/.
National Telemedicine portal, Telemedicine Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Retrieved May 20, 2019 from http://nmcn.in/.
NIMHANS Telemedicine. Retrieved May 20, 2019 from http://www.nimhans.ac.in/telemedicine Patnaik, S., & Patnaik, A.N. (2015). e-Health for All-isIndia Ready? National Journal of Community Medicine, 6(4), 633-638.
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh Telemedicine. Retrieved May 20, 2019 from http://pgimer.edu.in/PGIMER_PORTAL/PGIMERPORTAL/Department/Global/JSP/home_dept.jsp?CP=Eng&deptid=d53&B2=GO.
Raman, R., Bhojwani, D.N., & Sharma, T. (2014). How accurate is the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy on telescreening? The Indian scenario. Rural and Remote Health, 14(4), 2809.
Ramkumar, V., & Selvakumar, K. (2016). Telemedicine in a tertiary care hospital in South India-A thirteen year review. Journal of the International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth, 4, 1-6.
Ray, S., Sharma, P., & Kustwar, R.K. (2017). Scope and Challenges of Telemedicine Technology in India. Policy Perspective on Innovation and Sustainable Development. Vol IV in India S&T Series. Syahi publication House, New Delhi India. ISSN: 978-1-64204-740-0. pp 156-172.
Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF). Retrieved May 20, 2019, from http://www.scarfindia.org/tele-medicine/
SGPGI telemedicine website. Retrieved May 21, 2019 from http://www.sgpgi-telemedicine.org/.
Sharma, P., Shivaram, T.R., Sharma, A. (2016). A Methodical Review of e-Health Systems Developed for Indian Healthcare Sector. Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 9(44), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.17485/ijst/2016/v9i44/105077
Sheet, D. (2016). Toward a Comprehensive Cure: Digital information and communication technology is helping to meet health care challenges in India. IEEE Pulse, 7(6), 34-37. https://doi.org/10.1109/MPUL.2016.2607140
Suresh, S., & Nath, L. (2013). Challenges in managing telemedicine centers in remote tribal hilly areas of Uttarakhand. Indian Journal of Community Health, 25(4), 372-380.
Syed-Abdul, S., Scholl, J., Jian, W.S., & Li, Y.C. (2011). Challenges and opportunities for the adoption of telemedicine in India. Journal of telemedicine and telecare, 17(6), 336-337. https://doi.org/10.1258/jtt.2011.101210
Telemedicine National Policies, Strategies and Guidelines for implementation. Retrieved from http://www.searo.who.int/entity/health_situation_trends/events/19_India_Country_Experience.pdf
Total expenditure on health as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2019, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS?year_high_desc=false
Vivek, C., & Vikrant, K. (2016). Tele-ECG and 24-hour physician support over telephone for rural doctors can help early treatment of acute myocardial infarction in rural areas. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 22(3), 203-206. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X15592734

Published Date : 2020-07-30