The advent of the covid pandemic not only introduced to everyone social distancing but also initiated virtual proximity - to avoid physical closeness, the only way the world could move on was getting closer through online platforms. From businesses, to teaching, to shopping and yes even healthcare had become online.
Talking specifically about the health domain, although telemedicine had been a part of the fraternity since long before, the pandemic just acted as a catalyst. Online consultations, lab reports, and prescriptions - all have become the new normal and even after covid is at its best, many doctors continue to practice telemedicine.
The dictionary definition of telemedicine states - the remote diagnosis and treatment of patients utilizing telecommunications technology. In addition to this, WHO states that telehealth is 'the delivery of health care services from a distance synchronously (i.e., same time, different location) and/or asynchronously (i.e., different time, different location), by use of information and communication technologies to exchange health information.' The origins of telemedicine can be traced as far back as the use of ancient hieroglyphs and scrolls to share information about health-related events such as outbreaks or epidemics.
Telehealth involves the use of telecommunication technology to give the required and necessary healthcare services and facilities to people who are quite distant and far from the practitioner or hospitals. Some of the types of telehealth services offered are - Facsimile, medical data transmission, audio or video communication, videos, robotics, etc.
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have contributed to the rise of telehealth. There are many sects of the population which reside in remote areas where there is the absence of physical presence of doctors. The execution has made this world a global village and poses an advantage of implementing the intervention programs in various sects of populations, irrespective of time and location.
Telemedicine execution has its own set of disadvantages - the biggest being availability of internet connection every time, especially in remote areas. Countries like India have not yet become completely technologically advanced and internet connection is available everywhere, but still, wherever possible, this has been an asset to doctors and patients in the time of crisis.
