TeleHealth: Rapid growth ahead

Driven by a need to reach out to patients for care delivery during the pandemic, TeleHealth has emerged as the fastest-growing space within the healthcare sector in India. Explore the adoption levels, growth drivers, emergence of new opportunities, and nuances of growth in this special feature

- NAGESH JOSHI

Growth and higher growth' has been the story of India's remote delivery of healthcare services market, also known as TeleHealth. According to industry observers, the growth in the TeleHealth space in India has been more than a hundred percent, if not higher, during the past two years.

The trend looks no different when we compare it with the global market. According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the worldwide TeleHealth and telemedicine market is expected to reach $285.7 billion by 2027, growing by a compounded annual growth rate of 26.6 percent. The factors driving this growth include the rising population, increasing need to expand healthcare access, growing prevalence of chronic diseases and conditions, shortage of physicians, advancements in telecommunications, rising government support, and growing awareness. Interestingly, each of the above factors applies to India, indicating considerable growth for TeleHealth.

Adoption of TeleHealth in India

Although TeleHealth existed well before the pandemic, it was during the pandemic era that it witnessed substantial growth. When patients could not leave their homes due to lockdown, India's healthcare service providers reached out to them remotely via TeleHealth.

"In India, the growth of TeleHealth is driven by increasing acceptability among people, ease of use, convenience, low cost, and widespread internet availability. The absence of good doctors and medical specialists in rural areas is another factor popularizing TeleHealth in the hinterland," comments Ajay Sharma, Co-founder and COO, DESH Clinic, Delhi. DESH Clinic, a health-tech company, operates 100 digitally enabled smart health (DESH) clinics in rural and semi-urban areas across India.