Telemedicine in Healthcare

Abstract

Telemedicine is the art and science of providing healthcare and its practice using mobile and cellular technology. It is rapidly becoming popular in the recent years but during the COVID-19 pandemic especially it proved to be extremely useful as it enabled patients to receive medical attention without leaving their homes and coming in a face to face situation with the health care provider. Whereas it proved to be a boon for the patients in developed countries, it has the potential to revolutionize access to healthcare in developing countries.

The biggest advantage of telemedicine is that people living in remote areas can receive medical cover. This is usually the case in developing countries, where people have to travel long distances to reach a health facility. Telemedicine can overcome this obstacle by enabling doctors and other trained staff to provide medical advice and consultation remotely.. This can especially be beneficial in emergencies when immediate action might be of immense help to save lives. This can not only save time but also reduce costs and other perils incurred while travelling long distances by the patients and their relatives. At the same time, cost of equipment and infrastructure can also get reduced.