The very challenging pandemic has foregrounded the active role of digital health centers especially, online or virtual clinics and pharmacies. Being one of the most crucial sectors, the government stepped ahead for the agreement to allocate Rs. 2,83,846 lakh crore in the online healthcare system. it was announced in the latest Union Budget of 2021. People across the country are observed to be accessing the service of virtual care through various sites, apps, and other channels.
Unlike the latest scenario, moons before the pandemic took its toll, people used to visit the clinics and other healthcare centers physically to access the services. It took a sudden flip as soon as the outbreak of the pandemic took place. The government was apprehended to highlight and invest in the online healthcare infrastructure.
What is Virtual Healthcare?
A virtual meet between patients and healthcare service providers via communication systems, i.e., mediums through which the audio-video connection is linked between the communicators allowing virtual visits to occur from any location, is most precisely familiarized as Virtual Healthcare.
In more than one way, patients access virtual meets. To interact with the service providers like clinicians, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other specialists, methods such as videoconferencing, online or live chatting, and even over a phone call proves as convenient methods to step ahead for approaching and adapting the virtual services. There are models and apps providing health services free of cost in just a single click. People seeking services can reach out the specialists and professionals from remote locations.
Healthcare from home
Considering the unrest of covid-19, it is most actively observed that patients are more inclined to the idea of healthcare services from home. The reason being the exposure of risks of the virus spreading in a more enthralling way. Services provided to the patients include online doctor consultation, nurses, remote medicines, online checkups, and other regular tests. So much so, even for the tests like blood tests, urine tests, thyroid tests, etc. samples are collected from home for the test process, and results are delivered in the same way. Required distance is maintained eliminating the risks of spreading the fatal virus. Healthcare from home helps in wiping out the extra costs incurred in regular visits to the clinic.
Although there are impactful and engaging services for virtual healthcare, it is not clearly promising to say that it is working to its full potential. Many times, there is a lack of communication or glitch in audio-video conferencing. A team of technical experts is still working on the loopholes to bring transparency to the virtual healthcare system.
Conclusion
With the evolving technology, virtual healthcare is emerging as a very fragile yet fundamental change in our country’s traditionally practiced healthcare availing services. Replacing the old system, it will be availed by each and every citizen of India. The government believes that the virtual healthcare system will change the entire ecosystem of the healthcare sector.
