New Delhi: The use of technology in healthcare is imperative as it greatly enhances healthcare delivery, improves patient outcomes, and increases the overall efficiency of healthcare systems. It can implement electronic health records for better data management, offer telemedicine for remote patient consultations, utilise wearables and remote monitoring for health tracking, and apply artificial intelligence for diagnosis and treatment personalisation.
During the National HealthTech Innovation Conclave held in New Delhi, Dr Sonia Trikha, the Director General Health Services, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Haryana spoke on the theme “Enabling Healthcare with Technology” and started with the state-specific initiative of Haryana named e-Upchaar.
e-Upchaar
e-Upchaar is an e-governance initiative undertaken by the State Health Systems Resource Centre in Haryana to enhance the quality of service delivery in healthcare.
Its primary objective was to enhance administrative efficiency by implementing a state-of-the-art ICT-enabled Hospital Information System, which streamlines and digitises workflows. The implementation of e-Upchaar spans 55 healthcare facilities and includes various aspects, including software development, infrastructure setup, training, change management, as well as ongoing operations and maintenance support.
The initiative has brought about streamlined and transparent operations, improved patient care, enhanced administrative control, intelligent inventory and financial management, increased compliance with regulatory and reporting requirements, and greater efficiency among doctors, hospital staff, and administrators.
Tele-medicine
“Approximately 3 lakh patients in Haryana have availed the benefits of telemedicine, and it has been made easier through health and wellness centres. People are now able to access healthcare close to their households, in villages, in urban slums,” Trikha said.
Telemedicine is a healthcare approach that employs telecommunications technology to provide remote medical services and consultations. Through video conferencing, phone calls, or text messaging, patients can connect with healthcare professionals without the need for physical visits.
Telemedicine serves various purposes, including offering medical advice, follow-up care, remote monitoring of chronic conditions, prescription refills, mental health support, and specialist consultations. It enhances healthcare accessibility, reduces travel and waiting times, and has gained prominence, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, for its capacity to provide medical care while minimising in-person contact, although its availability and regulations can vary by region.
Use of AI
AI is revolutionising disease detection and healthcare in several ways. It is used for interpreting medical images, helping identify anomalies like tumours and fractures. Trikha said, “In the district of Haryana named Jind, we started using AI to detect tuberculosis, by using handheld cameras which were integrated with an AI tool.”
AI is aiding pathologists in diagnosing diseases, accelerates radiological image analysis, and enhances disease screening and risk assessment. It is also assisting in tracking disease progression, personalising treatment plans, and expediting drug discovery. AI can also predict disease outbreaks and trends, providing insights for better preparedness.
These technological advancements hold the potential to transform healthcare by making it more efficient, accessible, and effective, ultimately benefiting both healthcare providers and patients.
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