e-HEALTH FOR ALL -IS INDIA READY (original) (raw)

2015, National Journal of Community Medicine

Over the last couple of decades, developments in the information and communication technology have made the most palpable impact on health care management all over the world. Newer terms like tele- medicine, e-health, telehealth and digital health surfaced to encompass broad concepts like electronic medical records and hospital automation, telemedicine, e-learning in health sector, e-governance and so forth. Tele-medicine refers to the application of various tele- communication and networking systems in the delivery of appropri- ate health care to individuals without limitations of time or distance. It involves the speedy transmission of patient data related to consultations, diagnostic and therapeutic services, patient education and rehabilitative services among the providers, the consumers, the planners and researchers. The advantages range from reduction of travel time and expenses for the patient, optimization of resources, enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic quality, emergency management and early referral of critical cases, cost-effective delivery of specialized services (like follow-up after surgeries) and continued patient education and medical training. These novel concepts showed promising results in several pilot projects in India and now the time has come to apply them to the all corners of the country. In this review we tried to search all relevant published data on the introduction of e-health concepts, programs, and the initial results so far from such efforts both from the governmental and non- governmental agencies and analyze the barriers and their possible solutions and to finally answer if India is ready to deliver e-health for all.