Dr Shankar Narang, Chief Operating Officer, Paras Healthcare
The Indian healthcare sector has so far had a conservative approach towards adopting IT and telecom solutions. However, of late, it has increased its uptake of information and communications technology (ICT), realising its potential in delivering better healthcare. Going forward, m-health, telemedicine and the increased adoption of big data will help in extending healthcare services to remote pockets of the country. Senior executives of enterprises operating in this space talk about the emerging IT trends in healthcare, the status of technology adoption and the future outlook…
What role do ICT solutions play in the healthcare industry? What are some of the ICT initiatives undertaken by your organisation?
ICT plays a critical role in improving healthcare for communities. By providing new and more efficient ways of accessing, communicating and storing information, ICT can help bridge the information divide that has emerged in the health sector in developing countries. Therefore, ICT in healthcare can help in bridging the gap between health professionals and the communities they serve, and medical researchers and the practitioners who need it. Through the development of databases and other applications, ICT can provide the capacity to improve health system efficiencies and prevent medical errors.
How are the telemedicine and m-health segments expected to evolve in the Indian market?
India’s telemedicine market is growing at a compound annual growth rate of over 20 per cent and holds the potential to cross the $32 million mark by 2020 from the current level of over $15 million. In the past decade, the number of sub-centres across India has increased by about 6,300, primary health centres by about 1,800 and community health centres by over 2,000.
What is the scope of big data analytics, cloud and IoT in the healthcare industry?
Big data is required everywhere and there is almost an urgent need to collect and preserve whatever data is being generated so that we do not miss out on something important. Big data analytics has become crucial as it aids in improving businesses and decision-making, and in providing an edge over competitors.
What are the key IT and telecom-related challenges faced by healthcare enterprises? How can these be resolved?
The healthcare industry is struggling to manage the ever-growing amount of digital data. Electronic medical records, digital imaging reports and numerous clinical applications are putting pressure on the existing infrastructure. In addition to the need for adequate capacity and real-time access to disparate sites, digital data containing health information must adhere to stringent security measures.
“The healthcare sector is all set for a reboot.” Dr Shankar Narang
What are the key technology trends likely to be witnessed by the healthcare industry in the next few years?
The upcoming technology trends will focus on personalised data, real-time information and blockchain. The healthcare sector is all set for a reboot. It will not only transform the lives of patients, but also witness greater efficiencies and scalability.
