The world that we see today after the pandemic is definitely not how it was before. We saw countries lock themselves up, economies crash and industries shut down. Yet one industry that started booming during this time was the telemedicine industry. Medical researchers and patients started looking for ways to restrict in-person care to limit the spread of the virus, and as a response, telemedicine and telehealth started gaining popularity. Telemedicine, in simple words, is a method of remotely providing healthcare to patients by the exchange of medical reports, diagnosis and treatment through electronic devices. It is not just the use of video-conferencing or phone calls to provide treatment to the patients by medical experts. Multifunctional wearable devices like wrist bands or smartwatches can be used to collect data regarding the patients’ health remotely.

1. Anyone with an internet connection can get in touch with a healthcare practitioner, effectively eliminating geographical barriers.

2. Healthcare providers were able to limit the risk of exposure during the time of the pandemic.

3. Healthcare services have become more flexible as patients can do a wide range of things online, right from booking appointments to refilling their prescriptions.

4. It has also helped generate additional income for medical practitioners.

Even though in-person care is required for patients with serious illnesses, conditions with mild symptoms, counseling, therapy etc., can be provided remotely, thus reducing the hassle of visiting hospitals or clinics time and again, thus helping working professionals, elderly, and the disabled. However, there are quite a few setbacks in virtual healthcare that need to be addressed.

1. As the demand for telemedicine is now consistently increasing, quality care must be ensured to everyone who opts for such kind services.

2. Data security of patients must be of utmost importance as sensitive data like patients’ personal details and medical history are involved.

3. A feeling of mistrust and a lack of continuity could develop among the people as they are connected to different healthcare providers, each time they avail the service.

4. It must also have a user-friendly interface and a hassle-free process without the need to wait for a long time to avail the service.

5. Network connections in rural areas should be laid out, ensuring last mile connectivity.

Also, awareness should be created about the benefits of the service to encourage more people to opt for telemedicine. Telemedicine is here to revolutionize the way we approach healthcare, but seamless integration into the daily life of medical practitioners and healthcare professionals is also necessary to achieve the required goal. Patient centric-care should be of utmost priority with medical researchers and innovators chalking out new paths with regard to virtual health care. Policymakers should be encouraged to make decisions supporting telehealth initiatives. Efficient and secure healthcare should be made consistent and telehealth must be made a permanent component of healthcare services.

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