A VIRTUAL DOSE
Business Today|May 31, 2020
Digital connect with doctors and remote health monitoring are changing the healthcare delivery model
E. KUMAR SHARMA
A VIRTUAL DOSE

An experiment that two friends began 17 years ago has taken a new form and acquired relevance. At the turn of the century, space scientist and the then Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Dr K Kasturirangan, and Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, leading cardiac surgeon and founder of Narayana Health, came up with a plan to leverage ISRO satellites to remotely provide healthcare services. Little did they know then that it would become the norm in a corona-ravaged world. “Kasturirangan wanted to revolutionise rural healthcare using telemedicine that could be made possible with an ISRO dish on a hospital roof-top linked via satellite to a small dispensary in rural areas at the other end. I ended up seeing 53,000 patients across the country then,” says Dr Shetty.

Teleconsultation

“We could not transfer data and I could not see blood or X-ray reports. Now, it is dramatically different, and data is on the Microsoft Azure platform,” says Dr Shetty. Both he and Dr. Kasturirangan look back fondly at what they had attempted then and the new, robust form it has taken today, when Narayana gets health insights through the platform run on Azure, SQL Server and Power BI, as do some other leading hospitals. With pestilence rife and physical distance inevitable, teleconsultation is emerging as a viable healthcare delivery model. The Narayana Health City in Bangalore is alone seeing over 300 patients every day.

This story is from the May 31, 2020 edition of Business Today.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 31, 2020 edition of Business Today.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BUSINESS TODAYView All
The Dark Side Of Gold Loans
Business Today India

The Dark Side Of Gold Loans

There Has Been A Sharp Rise In Gold Loans In Recent Years. But There Is A Seedier Side To This, As Is Evident From The Red Flag The RBI Raised Recently. Will The Regulator's Move Protect Customers?

time-read
10+ mins  |
May 12, 2024
All That Glitters
Business Today India

All That Glitters

The price of gold has been rising unabated. It has soared to more than 73,000 per 10 gm in 2024 from *31,000 in early 2018. Is the rally sustainable or is this a bubble?

time-read
1 min  |
May 12, 2024
"Hire for attitude, not ability"
Business Today India

"Hire for attitude, not ability"

Thryve Digital is a player in the healthcare technology sector delivering next-generation solutions

time-read
1 min  |
May 12, 2024
Road Warrior
Business Today India

Road Warrior

For Khalid Wani, Senior Director of Sales at Western Digital India, life is much more than just the corner office. Biking across the world is one way he derives meaning for his life

time-read
3 mins  |
May 12, 2024
WIDENING THE POOL
Business Today India

WIDENING THE POOL

THERE HAS BEEN A JUMP IN INDIVIDUALS INVESTING DIRECTLY IN THE STOCK MARKETS, BUT MUMBAI AND AHMEDABAD STILL ACCOUNT FOR THE LION'S SHARE. THERE DEFINITELY IS SCOPE FOR IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF PENETRATION LEVELS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

time-read
7 mins  |
May 12, 2024
CRISIS IN THE CLOUDS
Business Today India

CRISIS IN THE CLOUDS

INDIAN AVIATION IS IN CRISIS. AIRLINES ARE GRAPPLING WITH FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS, CREW SHORTAGES, AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT POOR SERVICE, ARE BLEEDING DUE TO RISING COSTS WILL THE FASTEST-GROWING AVIATION MARKET RECOVER?

time-read
9 mins  |
May 12, 2024
"India should start privatising public sector banks"
Business Today India

"India should start privatising public sector banks"

Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, on growth, inequality, jobs, the banking sector, and more

time-read
8 mins  |
May 12, 2024
"I LET MY WORK DO THE TALKING"
Business Today India

"I LET MY WORK DO THE TALKING"

Megha Engineering & Infrastructures MD P.V. Krishna Reddy on being low profile, the infra opportunity and much more

time-read
4 mins  |
May 12, 2024
"Core of insurance lies in long-term security"
Business Today India

"Core of insurance lies in long-term security"

Vibha Padalkar, MD & CEO of HDFC Life, on the insurance provider's performance, surrender charges, and future innovations

time-read
3 mins  |
May 12, 2024
Distress in the Books
Business Today India

Distress in the Books

Bandhan Bank, the brainchild of Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, has made the journey from an MFI to a bank, but with many hurdles. Now with his resignation as MD & CEO, is the lender staring at more uncertainty?

time-read
2 mins  |
May 12, 2024