Evolution of Smart Healthcare: Telemedicine During COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Telemedicine is considered as the "Natural evolution of healthcare in the digital world." In India, considering the vast geographical spread, predominant rural population, and sound medicinal services overwhelmingly accessible in urban areas, telemedicine has immense potential to grow from its nascent stages. The progression of technology-enabled transformations will provide an impetus to reshape the contours of India's healthcare. Epidemics and pandemics pose a monumental challenge for healthcare professionals. To mitigate the impacts, extending telemedicine's emergence and utilization can serve as one of the most effective approaches to broaden our perspectives. Further proactive intervention and exploration to increase comprehension of how telemedicine could be applied during pestilence circumstances needs to be expedited. The prospects for smart healthcare are vast; thus, embracing the recent advancement of information and communication technology can lead to indelible healthcare management changes. The present review outlines the status, challenges, and need to promote telemedicine's rapid progression in India, especially during the pandemic emergency rooms.