Nano─medicine, virtual─augmented reality and robo─assisted surgery set to transform invasive medical care
Digital influence and technological intervention are breaking barriers in the Indian healthcare industry, especially in post-pandemic times, leading to a dynamic transformation. Nano-medicine, virtual-augmented reality and robo-assisted surgery are all set to transform invasive medical care in the country.
Rajib Banerjee, founder & CEO, MasMedi, which is a diagnostic lab aggregator, said that technology is revolutionising healthcare from patients’ homes to the operating theatres.
Globally in healthcare, artificial intelligence is the key game changer. The focus areas of AI in Indian healthcare are triaging, detection and diagnostics. Further, AI plays a vital role in identifying the underlying causes of diseases and managing their treatment plans, he added.
While adopting disruptive technologies, the Indian healthcare industry is evolving from improving accessibility and affordability to quality of life in rural areas, as well, through technological advancements. In India, the doctor-patient ratio is 1:1456 compared to the standard ratio of 1:1000 as per WHO. Since the doctor-patient ratio in India lacks the standard WHO ratio, digital healthcare becomes more imperative in remote rural areas where doctors can reach via technology, he said.
The Government of India is also proactively boosting several initiatives, like the Health Data Privacy & Security Act to promote AI in healthcare. Virtual healthcare is also gaining ground. Tech advances have enabled doctor visits, nurse requirements or consultancy with any other specialist, a much easier process via giving virtual platforms like video conferencing, mobile apps, messages etc.
Nano-medicine too is an emerging tech-enabled trend. Nanotechnology is used for highly-specific medical interventions in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases effectively. It is reported that the global nano-medicine market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.2% by 2030.
Nanomedicines allow accurate delivery of drugs into the human body’s disease site. It allows doctors to deliver chemotherapy directly to targeted tumours instead of poisoning an entire body. They slowly release medicine from a single nanoparticle, reducing the frequency of drug injections, he said.
Robotic surgeries are the new-edge technology enabling doctors and specialists to perform procedures and complex surgeries more accurately. There is less pain and blood loss besides quicker recovery. Since it is minimally invasive, it results in fewer scars and complications than conventional surgeries.
Virtual reality in healthcare caters to a broad spectrum of healthcare services. It provides simulators that help healthcare professionals to practice surgeries and procedures in virtual reality, enhancing the quality of operations in real situations. It is also instrumental in physical and mental health treatments. While immersing in virtual world, lowers pain and anxiety. In addition it helps tackle traumatic experiences by recreating the situation.
Therefore technology is the future and the present of Indian healthcare. It facilitates real-time diagnosis, improves the chances of successful treatments, lowers healthcare costs and reduces hospital stays. The growing potential of technology in healthcare indicates that Indian health infrastructure will emerge well-fortified in the foreseeable future, said Banerjee.
