by Anindita Sengupta
WHAT’S HAPPENING
- Indians will soon be able to get medical care on their mobile phones. Leading hospital chain the Apollo Group is ready to roll out m-health services in Chennai and Kolkata this month.
- They will provide a host of real-time services, including first-level care through junior doctors in telecentres. Areas include psychiatry, family practice, internal medicine, rehabilitation, cardiology, paediatrics and neurology, among others.
- A pilot project to handle emergency pregnancies through video streaming is also on the cards.
- The global mobile health technology market is expected to grow at 25% annually from the current Rs 6,750 crore ($1.5 billion) to Rs 20,700 crore ($4.6 billion) by 2014 (HindustanTimes.com, 9 January 2011).
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WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS
- By providing quality services at low prices in remote areas, mobile phones can bring health closer to the common man and transform the medical landscape in rural India where there are very few doctors.
- m-health will provide easy options to busy consumers wanting to check in for some quick advice or care. It might also increase the incidence of people resorting to preventive care.
- m-health will make it easier for government and medical institutes to run awareness campaigns and vaccination drives.
RESOURCES
