3 Ways Telehealth Can Transform Rural Communities

Telehealth is also referred to as telemedicine. Generally, telemedicine refers to delivering health services using the internet or video consultation.

The idea of telehealth was developed years ago, but it gained popularity during the agonizing Covid-19 outbreak. Telemedicine's rise has been accelerated by an increase in internet usage among Indians in both urban and rural areas. Teleconsultation enables us to consult doctor online without leaving the comfort of our homes.

To consult doctor online in India is the new normal which is gradually growing among the Indian masses.

Here, in this article, we will look at the problems of healthcare services in rural areas and how telehealth can solve them.

Let’s have a glance at how telehealth can transform rural communities in India.

1. Direct one-on-one consultation with the best Doctors in India:

The quality of health care services accessible in rural areas has always been a question mark for decades. In India, more than 70% of residents dwell in rural areas and more than 72% of doctors serve in urban areas.

Teleconsultation comes with a solution to bridge this huge gap between the patients and their requirement of getting a consultation with the best doctors.

Telemedicine can help you get a better assessment: Using telemedicine, allergists may be able to find the keys in your surroundings (home environment) that cause allergies. Teleconsultation in India is also the best way to get general treatment(cough, fever, vomiting,diabetes and BP), mental health treatment or psychological therapies and counseling, which are rarely available in remote or rural areas in India.

2. Telehealth is cost-effective:

Telemedicine uses a video calling method to fix your appointment with the doctor, meaning you don’t have to travel to bigger cities to get the consultation.

People residing in rural areas face location as a huge barrier. This often leads to negligence which costs them higher in the long run. Teleconsultation can transform the health services in rural areas as it lets people get a consultation in their areas, nearby clinics, even homes, etc. This can save a lot of money and time for people living in rural areas.

Also, the nurses available in rural areas must be well-trained and have digital literacy for the smooth functioning of the telehealth concept.

Consulting a doctor online in India can be very much helpful in case an elderly person cannot manage to travel. There are still many rural areas in India where the availability of ambulances is next to impossible, telehealth could be helpful in such situations as well.

3. Reduced vulnerability to getting infected with viruses/pathogens

Hygiene is a major issue in India whether it be urban or rural. Waiting in a queue in hospitals for long hours with other patients to get an appointment can contribute to the spread of COVID-19, the flu, and other chronic viruses. Telemedicine lets people stay at home, resisting exposure to viruses and other communicable diseases like chickenpox, influenza, anthrax, etc.

Challenges to telemedicine:

1. Requires Smart devices and internet connectivity:

The unavailability of a good internet connection can prove to be a huge hindrance when it comes to getting a consultation online. There are still a large number of people who don’t use smartphones, many don’t even use phones, and in that scenario, the working of telemedicine wouldn’t even take place.

But with the onset of 5-G technology and many government schemes, telehealth has started to make its presence in rural areas as well.

2. Restricted physical assessment:

Doctors can only assess what they can see and what patients tell them. In such cases, the availability of nurses will be indispensable. Well-trained nurses will not only act as a mediator between the doctors and the patients but will also guide the patients to get the treatment correctly.

Nurses will help people by making them understand the directions of the doctor in their regional language as well.

Conclusion:

An escalating number of doctors are charging less for a telemedicine consultation than they would for an in-person visit. There’s a plethora of information available online so it becomes tough to decide, and when it comes to health, it’s always advisable to get the best treatment.

Using online channels could be a great move to get an appointment with the specialists.

Vanya Health is a great platform using which you can get a list of doctors with their specialties and charging rates. You may quickly contact doctors online and get answers to your questions for any problem, including fever, colds, coughs, vomiting, and basic health issues like blood pressure or diabetes. Vanya Health connects you with the best doctors in India. Book your online appointment today!