New Public Innovation Introduced in India: Telemedicine & Lybrate

As per a McKinsey Global Institute report, India’s digitisation is occurring faster than any other emerging economy, barring Indonesia. 

The impact of this digital wave is evident in many sectors, including the medical and pharmaceutical industries. Today, telemedicine has become a reality for Indian patients.

Knowing what is telemedicine and Lybrate will further enable doctors and patients to engage better.

What is telemedicine?

Telemedicine refers to the practice of remote diagnosis and medical aid, provided using telecommunication as the means for the treatment. 

Since healthcare services are being offered through an electronic medium, long-distance patients today can easily connect with their doctors. 

• Implementation of telemedicine is expected to reduce India’s medical expenditure by $4 to $5 billion every year.

Also known as telehealth, this technology is expected to decrease the gap of quality healthcare when it comes to urban and rural India.

• Urban centres in India have four times the medical practitioners when compared to the rural regions.
• Only 19% of doctors serving in rural India possess a valid medical degree.

Simply knowing what is telemedicine is not enough; you should also learn why this technology is witnessing rapid growth in the country.

Telemedicine’s popularity in India

Several factors play a significant role in popularising the telemedicine format for treatment. Nonetheless, the primary reason behind this rapid rise is the mass access and availability of internet in the country. 

• India has the second-largest internet subscriber base of 560 million. This is second only to China, which has a considerably higher population as well.

A few years back, most Indians lacked the option to go on the internet and look for a medical consultation online. Today, the population can easily Google what is telemedicine and search for clinics offering the facility.

Still, doctors may face a financial issue when switching their practice to telemedicine. This is where third-party aggregator services, such as Lybrate come into the fray.

What is Lybrate?

Lybrate is a mobile healthcare technology brand that acts as a bridge between doctors and patients. Doctors, belonging to various specialisations and backgrounds, can enrol on Lybrate’s online platform. 

Patients who come to the platform seeking help can connect with these listed physicians and seek treatment over the internet or the phone.

• Lybrate currently hosts more than 1 lakh certified practitioners on its platform.

While the service is immensely popular with patients, it has also become a viable option for those doctors trying to capitalise on the telemedicine’s potential. As a physician, you can effectively grow your practice with Lybrate.

Registering on Lybrate for doctors

Registering on Lybrate’s platform is simple if you are a practitioner.

You need to furnish the following documents –

• Medical practice license,
• Identity proof,
• Government-issued photo identification.

After paying a subscription fee, you are free to access Lybrate for doctors, and the various feeds to connect with patients. 

Your feed will be curated based on two factors –

• Speciality and stream.
• Location of practice.

Doctors who intend to offer telemedicine without Lybrate may need to spend a considerable amount setting up the facility. In such cases, a doctor loan is essential to finance such efforts.

How can doctors initiate telemedicine?

Physicians need to invest when looking to set up a telemedicine unit, especially on the software and equipment.

Such investments are usually on the following three –

• Telemedicine carts – These carts usually contain microphone, cameras, speakers and monitors. Using such equipment, doctors can virtually interact with patients.
• Medical devices – Physicians must possess particular tools of the trade to diagnose and treat patients –

1. Stethoscope.
2. Ultrasound.
3. ECG.
4. Spirometre.
5. Examination camera.

• Software – On the software front, telemedicine practitioners must invest in an excellent platform to connect with clients –

1. We Counsel
2. Doxy.me
3. VSee
4. Zoom
5. Sherpaa

Besides, you will also need to assemble a dependable team comprising inventory managers, IT workers and clinical team representatives. If you are unable to arrange the sizable investment involved with such a change, you can choose to go digital using a Bajaj Finserv Loan for doctors.

Nevertheless, those looking to avoid financial hassle should pick Lybrate for doctors. By doing so, you can capitalise on this growth of mobile healthcare in India. 

• Digitisation in India is expected to create around 60 million jobs by 2025.

Make sure you offer quality healthcare, whether online or offline, to ensure success. With successful implementation, telemedicine can significantly increase your reach, leading to increased patients.