Healthcare which is already a flourishing industry in India is reaching new heights as the latest techniques and technologies are being incorporated in this sector.
Source: UST Global
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Numerous health-tech platforms have cropped up in the last few years, which has made staying healthy and fit easier than ever before. Earlier people were solely dependant on the doctors to know their health levels.Whereas, nowadays, due to the presence of various online applications and technologically advanced gadgets these details can be obtained with just a few touches on the mobile phones. In addition to that, wearables like smart watches, activity trackers, fitness gadgets, etc. are helping the health conscious people stay motivated in their quest to attain optimum fitness levels.
Inc42 maintains that, in 2017, 90 health-tech startups were funded with a sum of $129.85 million. These investments have laid the foundation for the development of path-breaking technologies which has the potential to transform the face of the healthcare industry in India. It has played a key role in digitizing the health sector already.
India is fast turning into a hub for health-tech startups. The following are the country’s most exciting health-tech startups who are setting the benchmark for the rest to follow.
- JustDoc: One of the largest global online doctor consultation platforms, JustDoc is an online portal where one can get medical advice from experts and certified doctors via audio, video & chat. Interactions between the patients and the doctors as well as their information are kept confidential and private, making it an extremely trustworthy mode of seeking medical help. Recently, JustDoc has also launched their Medicine and Lab Test portals, which is definitely a major step in the progress of healthcare in India.
- LiveHealth: This startup has made the job of healthcare providers very easy and efficient as it functions as a management information system (MIS). It was founded in 2013 and by optimizing and analyzing patient information, it has made the entire process of diagnosis and prognosis fast and effective.
- BigChemist: In May 2013, BigChemist was launched by Puneet Kapoor, a healthcare industry professional, along with his friends Arvind Yadav and Anil Asnani. It is an online platform where one can procure genuine medicines and healthcare products from the comfort of one’s home!
- ePsyclinic: This startup is an online platform where one can get access to fully safe, private and quality services on mental health and emotional wellness. ePsyclinic has some of the best-trained mental health care professionals and equipment in India.
As science evolves and more innovations are made, newer technologies will be launched soon, One has a lot to look forward to in the near future when it comes to healthcare. The inclusion of technologies such as AI, ML, VR, and Robotics in healthcare will help to transform the industry in ways one could have never imagined.
AI/ML
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Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have definitely made rapid strides in the field of healthcare, the most significant of which is the contribution towards genetics. The better a person understands genetics, the easier it will become to provide insights according to their unique biological dispositions in individuals. Technologies such as Google’s Deep Mind and IBM’s Watson are helping researchers understand better the language and functioning of the DNA. Further, Big Data enables healthcare providers to store huge amounts of data (patient records, clinical notes, diagnostic images, etc.), thus, facilitating faster pattern recognition.
With more progress in ML, it may become possible to detect and treat the faint symptoms of diseases before the detectable symptoms begin to appear, thus, decreasing the chances of strong impact of the diseases. For instance, Freenome, has developed an Adaptive Genomics Engine which can detect disease signatures in the blood by using the ‘freenome’, which is the thread of genetic material floating in the blood that constantly changes over time and acts like a genomic thermometer.
VR
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Although it may sound a little unconventional but VR is increasingly becoming a preferred choice of tool for healthcare professionals to promote and improve health. Today, a large number of video games are coming up with exclusive designs to target the health sector. For instance, Dig Rush by Amblyotech and Ubisoft, has been developed to help kids with amblyopia (lazy eye).
Similarly, while playing Isobar’s Common Ground VR, one gets the taste of what it is like to have a visual disability like macular degeneration or glaucoma. Thus, through experiencing the hardships to accomplish even commonplace things, players will learn to empathize more with those who actually face such issues. Though this is gaining ground gradually, VR is being accepted by many health professionals and trainers for transforming the conventional health education system.
Robotics
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Needless to say, robotics have been making huge changes in healthcare. It has certainly made surgery more precise and has simplified the entire process. No longer does the doctor have to drill into the skull or make large incisions, but today, the same things can be accomplished through minor incisions, through the da Vinci surgery.
Since robots do not feel pain or emotion like the humans do, robotic nurses would be the perfect substitute for carrying out all the gory and challenging tasks that nurses currently deal with. Anybots Inc, rooting on ‘Virtual Presence’, has developed robots which can interact with patients and gather information about their health and living conditions, and conclude whether or not they need further appointments.
This drastically reduces the burden on doctors to check on their patients through home visits, saving both time and energy. Exoskeletons, another marvel of robotics technology, is a godsend for paralyzed people and for those recovering from a stroke or spinal cord injury.
These are just a handful of examples of how technology has helped humans accomplish greater things in the field of healthcare, but there are so many other areas too which it has touched in the recent years.
As technology keeps on developing and advancing, there will be greater opportunities for researchers and scientists to find ways to provide better and more efficient healthcare services in the future.