by mohit sood
As the world continues to grapple with major health challenges, the importance of preventative health it has never been more apparent. From chronic disease management to preventing potential health risks, proactive healthcare initiatives are the key to a healthier, more resilient population. In India, a nation challenged by a large population and disparate access to health services, the transformative power of Emerging technologies can play a fundamental role in this change in the healthcare paradigm. With chronic diseases reaching epidemic proportions and the threat of new pandemics looming, a shift toward preventive health care is not only desirable but imperative.
The technological revolution in health, driven by advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and more, offers a vision in which medical care extends beyond the treatment of disease to promote and maintain good health. The industry is witnessing the merger of various fields such as IoT and telemedicine, forming the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). It has become a powerful tool in the healthcare digital transformation journey, particularly in the realm of preventative healthcare.
One of the most pressing challenges in health care in India is the unequal distribution of resources, highlighted by the high patient to doctor ratio and limited access to quality health care in rural areas. This scenario underscores the need for innovative, scalable, and cost-effective solutions, which is where technologies like IoMT can be a game changer. IoMT takes advantage of Internet connectivity and smart devices to facilitate real-time monitoring, early detection, and disease prevention. With internet penetration and smartphone usage on the rise in India, IoMT can help bridge the rural-urban healthcare gap, ensuring continuous monitoring of patient health metrics, regardless of geographic limitations.
The real power of IoMT lies in its potential to shift the focus of healthcare from treatment to prevention. It allows early identification of possible health problems and timely interventions. Even without specialized training, clinicians can track patients’ vital signs, detect abnormalities in real time, and provide necessary interventions proactively rather than reactively. By enabling constant monitoring and alerting healthcare professionals in an emergency, it has the potential to transform the lives of patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart conditions, which are increasingly prevalent in India. Additionally, with access to integrated digital health technology and medical records, physicians can make more accurate diagnoses, ensuring timely intervention. That being said, applying this technology to rural areas presents its own set of challenges. Full utilization of the potential of IoMT assumes that the rural population would constantly use portable devices, a proposition that could be difficult. A complementary approach could be to equip rural community centers such as panchayats, district hospitals, and medical facilities with cost-effective smart devices. Such measures could significantly reduce the time and cost associated with diagnostic testing, facilitating the convenient provision of large-scale preventive health care services to rural populations.
The combined strength of AI and ML has given rise to another powerful tool for preventative healthcare: predictive analytics. By analyzing large repositories of health data, predictive analytics can discern patterns and trends, forecast health risks, and guide preventive action.
Data from several studies highlight the urgent need for a shift towards preventive healthcare in India. According to a WHO report titled ‘Invisible Numbers: The True Scale of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)’, 66 per cent of total deaths in India in 2019 were due to NCDs. Surprisingly, a significant portion of these deaths could have been prevented through timely interventions and lifestyle modifications. This alarming statistic emphasizes the importance of proactive measures and the adoption of emerging technologies in preventive health care to mitigate the burden of NCDs and improve overall population health outcomes.
By taking proactive steps, leveraging technological advances, and fostering a culture of prevention, we have the potential to dramatically improve healthcare outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and improve the accessibility and quality of healthcare services. The potential of these technologies to shape a healthier and more resilient India is enormous – a promise of a future where healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
Mohit Sood, Regional Managing Director, ZS
(DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by ETHealthworld. ETHealthworld.com shall not be liable for any damage caused to any person or organization directly or indirectly.)
