Tag: telecare

  • Growth Of Online Doctor Consultation Market During Pandemic

    In an era, where everything is available at the click of a button it is no surprise that even a specialist doctor or a clinical examination could be done online. Online doctor consultation is a coveted field in India and is able to offer services like telehealth, telemedicine, telecare, and digital health care services. According to the survey conducted by Accenture in 2017, over 70% of the consumers are willing to experience health care services virtually, while 20% have already experienced virtual healthcare.

    Many startup companies are looking to make it in the industry as it is currently rising. The consumer’s expectations for a convenient healthcare system are evolving while the healthcare industry is continuously striving to meet people’s needs with the help of technology. The telemedicine market in India is expected to reach $5.4 Billion by 2025 with a CAGR of 31%.

    The online doctor consultation allows the dissemination of specialized knowledge among the medical community through advanced networks, reviews, emergency medical consultations during an epidemic or crisis among others. According to a report by Practo, online doctor consultations have increased 500% since March 2020, as five crore Indians are now accessing healthcare online amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Telemedicine Industry in India
    Growth of Online Consultation in India
    Importance Of Online Consultation
    Target Audience of Telemedicine Industry
    Future of Telemedicine Industry in India
    FAQ’s

    Best Online Doctor Consultation Apps in 2020
    In the COVID-19 [/tag/covid-19/] pandemic, the doctors are playing an essentialrole in coping with the current situation. Due to coronavirus, consultingdoctors is not as easy as earlier. But luckily Healthcare startups[/tag/healthcare-startup/] are reducing the gap between the doctor, patients,a…

    Telemedicine Industry in India

    The Telemedicine Industry is expected to create more than $5.4 billion market opportunities by 2025. Practo, DocPrime, mFine, CallHealth, and Lybrate are some of the leading startups in India’s telemedicine market. The COVID 19 outbreak has created many challenges in traditional healthcare systems, as citizens have not been able to consult with the doctors physically.

    This situation has led the government to change the regulations around remote delivery of healthcare services and allow telemedicine via video, audio, or text. Telemedicine will not only help these startups address the spread of Coronavirus but also improve access to healthcare in rural areas. Innovative technologies are allowing health organizations to enhance access and reduce the burden on hospitals through real-time consultation with doctors through online services.

    top doctor consultation sites in India
    top doctor consultation sites in India

    Telemedicine will reduce the time of consultations and improve the quality of healthcare services in rural areas, removing many infrastructural challenges. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends every country to have a ratio of 1:1000 doctor to patient ratio, India only has one governmental doctor for every 1,139 people.

    According to a report, India has a shortage of 600 thousand doctors and 2 million nurses. This leads to limited face-to-face consultations among patients. Secondly, India also has a shortage of hospital beds, which makes hospitalization difficult and there needs to be better infrastructure and facilities whereas with the help of online consultations the healthcare sector can reduce its problems.

    Zoom Success Story – Helping The World in Surviving this Pandemic with Video Communications!
    With the coronavirus pandemic hitting the whole world at large, the face-to-facebusiness activities had to take a toll. That’s when this company raised to itsmagnificence. We are talking about the Zoom cloud meeting which was founded byEric S. Yuan in 2011. Zoom is an American company offering r…

    Growth of Online Consultation in India

    Online consultation has become popular in India because it is easier and safer to access healthcare via call, video, chat with doctors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The health ministry has urged people to take advantage of telemedicine services during the lockdown. And since then the usage of online consultation apps and medicine delivery services has been on the rise.

    The pandemic has encouraged people to use the platform and consult a certified medical practitioner rather than resorting to self-medication. Online consultations are known for specialties such as Gynecology and Dermatology, while other specialties like mental health, pediatrics, ENT, ophthalmology, and gastroenterology are all well-known departments.

    The growth of telemedicine in India
    The growth of telemedicine in India

    The telemedicine sector is steadily increasing not only across metropolitan cities but also in smaller cities like Hoshiarpur, Karnal, and Durgapur. The online doctor consultation platform mFine is seeing demand from states which has a low doctor-to-patient ratio since lockdown. The app has also seen new user signups and consultations from users in states such as Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh where the doctor-patient ratio is the lowest in the country.

    Many other healthcare startups are seeing an unprecedented surge in demand as they shift healthcare delivery onto the internet, promote telemedicine, encourage online medicine bookings and use chatbots to answer patient queries. The support rendered by the national and state governments, their subsidiary concerns, and allies such as the ISRO have contributed a great deal to facilitate the development of telemedicine as a well-recognized field.

    The Covid-19 Pandemic Proved To Be Lucrative For These Industries
    The sudden outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has left no industries and sectorsunscathed, worldwide. And many parts of the economy have taken a hit because ofit. While the pandemic has created global economic uncertainty, it has also provedto be lucrative for some industries and created new mark…

    Importance Of Online Consultation

    India has seen a tremendous increase in demand for telemedicine for healthcare services. According to Statista, the industry might have touched $280 billion by the end of 2020. Though the healthcare sector is seeing a giant leap in providing services to consumers, it has still not been able to expand its market in rural areas. Around 75% of the rural population is struggling with insufficient infrastructure and technological awareness. This is the reason why online consultation might help overcome this issue.

    • Bringing quality healthcare services to the rural areas of the country.
    • Benefits the people of rural areas in bringing down the disparity in healthcare offerings between the rural and urban areas.
    • Provides access to qualified healthcare providers, specialized consultation, accurate prognosis, timely diagnosis, and effective course of treatment.
    • The people of urban areas, who have access to world-class hospitals and treatment facilities but don’t have the time can seek help by online consultations.
    • The patients can have real-time interactions through video conferencing solutions, or store and forward models which can capture patient and disease-related information through dictation, photos, videos, radiology, etc.
    • The patients can get the benefits of an actual visit to the doctor without having to do so.
    • Not just consultation and treatment, but many other services can be fulfilled through telemedicine, which brings together the best of both worlds – medicine and telecommunication.
    • It helps in the dissemination of specialized knowledge among the medical community through advanced technology and peer-to-peer reviews.
    • It’s very useful for emergency medical consultations in times of an epidemic or crisis.
    How to provide a great online consultation experience

    Target Audience of Telemedicine Industry

    • People who are willing to try telemedicine.
    • Application developers and network operators.
    • Third-party suppliers and healthcare service providers.
    • Potential Investors.
    • Government organizations.
    • Research Institutes.

    Why COVID-19 is Game Changer for Online Businesses
    The world is currently facing the largest health crisis since the Spanish Fluepidemic of 1918 and unfortunately, there seems to be no clear end in sight.Countless lives have been disrupted and businesses are likewise suffering as adirect result. While even some of the largest companies have alrea…

    Future of Telemedicine Industry in India

    With the growing attention for telemedicine services, countries around the world are developing a regulatory framework for the industry. While India is already one of the top 10 countries in telemedicine marketing the world, the adoption of a regulatory framework will help the segment grow rapidly.

    Tattvan Mishra, founder, and CEO of Tattvan E-Clinics said that “India has seen considerable growth in the telemedicine sector however, the growth was not rapid due to the lack of proper guidelines and regulations. In the coming years, I expect a high investment from the private sector in the field of telemedicine. I think the telemedicine industry has a bright future and may become a multi-billion industry in the next 3-5 years.”

    Online consultation platforms have supported the healthcare needs of Indians at a time of lockdown. Saurabh Arora, the founder and CEO of Lybrate in a press statement said that “It is the need of the hour to contain the spread of the virus. The healthcare burden on the country is gigantic around this time and platforms like ours can definitely help share it. People can consult doctors on Lybrate across specialties and so on other platforms, letting hospitals tend to more serious patients”.

    Besides telemedicine, other health-tech segments such as online pharmacy, medical technology, and medical devices have also called for increased regulatory clarity so that startups can focus on the model rather than tweaking their operations. When it comes to the online consultation market, the COVID 19 crisis could bring about a lot of clarity and growth just like the fintech sector got a push in India after the demonetization in 2016.

    FAQ’s

    1. What is an online doctor consultation or online medical consultation?

    When you visit a doctor about your health-related issues through an audio/video/chat, it is called an online doctor consultation or online medical consultation. This is an alternative for you when you cannot visit a doctor physically at the clinic or hospital.

    2. How do I consult a doctor online now?

    Book an online consultation either on the website or mobile app. Look out for the ‘Find a Doctor’ button on the homepage of the website/app, select the specialty of your problem or type the name of the doctor directly. Once the doctor of your specialty is selected, you can click on the “Consult Now’ button to start with the online consultation.

    3. Do you provide online doctor consultation for emergencies?

    No, it is not recommended. It is advisable to contact emergency services during emergencies. Emergency medical services are available round-the-clock which can be accessed by calling 112 or clicking the ‘Emergency’ tab on the homepage of the respective website/app.

    4. Where is my prescription for the online doctor consultation?

    Prescription for your online consult can be found in the Records/History section. By clicking on this tab, you will be able to view/download your prescription.

    5. Is it safe to consult online?

    Online consultation is absolutely safe and private, where customer information and health data is the most important thing that is kept private.

  • Reasons Why These Startup Sectors Bloomed During Lockdown

    In the unprecedented time, where everyone is talking about the economic slowdown and financial difficulties, there have been a few startups sectors that have managed grow exponentially well.

    The Covid 19 pandemic has shaken the world and has brought many business to a halt, although startups have lost their momentum they are already on the path to recover while the newly created trends are expected to see a long term success.

    Nasscom said that 40% off Indian tech startups were forced to halt operation, however the investments and startups have shown resilience and recovered as India saw a rapid shift to digital services and payments. Data from industry tracker Tracxn showed that, investors have put in about $9.3 billion into startups in 2020 despite the Covid 19 pandemic upending many sectors of the economy.

    Ed –Tech
    Fintech
    Health and wellness
    HR tech: Cloud and SaaS
    OTT platforms
    Online Gaming
    FAQ

    How These Startup Sectors Bloomed During Lockdown

    One of the simple explanation for the growth of some section of the startups is the emergence of the “Covid economy” which demands or medical supplies and coronavirus related goods which naturally grew during the pandemic, creating lots of opportunities for new companies to step in and take their share of a rapidly developing market. These companies realize that post Covid 19, this new normal will be accepted as the norm for the remaining in the competitive business.

    For some of these sectors, the new normal would bring in newfound opportunities. A whole new market that was untouched before is now up for grabs. As we are talking of all this, some startups are already working upon the aforesaid scenario. Let’s take a closer look at the startup sectors that are most likely to flourish after the end of COVID-19.

    Lets look at the Sectors that Bloomed During Lockdown

    Ed –Tech

    One sector that continues to grow rapidly is online education. With Covid 19 locking down Indian citizen since the end of March, online education and e-learning platform have become the need of the hour and so has seen an astounding adoption and exponential growth.

    The online education sector is observing a sudden surge and people from all walks of life,  all the Covid 19 affected nations are looking up to alternatives of conventional teaching and learning.

    That’s not surprising, considering that a whopping 1.5 billion students were grounded almost overnight as cities locked down and schools closed. A report by BARC India and Nielsen reveals that there has been a 30% increase in the time spent on education apps on smartphones since the lockdown.

    People are afraid to send their children to places where social distancing is not practiced and hence the ed tech sector is tapping on every possible entity they can.

    Well known EdTech startups of India
    Well known EdTech startups of India

    Ed tech are coming up with solutions that find their usage in various places from universities and schools, to remote employee onboarding, and upskilling to learn new skills and hobbies. Byju’s India earliest Ed tech startup saw 7.5 million new users on its platform since it started offering free access to content. The time spent on its app increased from 70 minutes pre-lockdown to 91 minutes during the lockdown.

    The story is the same for other edtech players in the arena. Unacademy recorded 1.4 billion watch minutes while Toppr saw 100 percent growth in free user engagement in March. While Edtech startups Great Learning said its annual revenue rose 150 percent to Rs 325 crore. The Vedantu platform has also grown exponentially to 6.5 lakh additional learners across K-12 and competitive exams such as JEE and NEET.


    Toppr’s Growth To Becoming A Edtech Competitor During Pandemic
    With the unprecedented times of the Covid 19, the one sector that has seen anexponential growth is the Ed-Tech sector. With the lockdown of many Indianmetropolitan cities since the end March, online education and e-learningplatform have seen an astonishing adoption and growth. This however, is no…


    Fintech

    During the pandemic the demand for contactless solutions has accelerated the employment of fintech services. This growth of the fintech sector helped the users to check for much more personalized, multi optional financial experience and new trends in areas like banking payments, insurtech, etc. Out of 900 plus deals and $11.5 billion total funding raised in 2020, fintech topped the chart with $2.1 billion in funding and 131 in deal counts.

    In such times fintech startups play a pivotal role as they are a perfect option to the stringent and conventional banking systems which sometimes fall short on policies. For small scale enterprise or unemployed individuals who require funds on short notices, these financial entities are the only ray of hope. The pandemic has acted as a booster for the country’s fintech sector giving it the much needed energy and growth trajectory to expand its footprint across the nation.

    According to Inc42 Plus, funding in fintech is expected to grow to $2.7 Bn in 2021. This is why of the 11 Indian startups Unacademy, Pine Labs, FirstCry, Zenoti, Nykaa, Postman, Zerodha, Razorpay, Cars24, Dailyhunt and Glance that became unicorns in 2020, three belonged to the fintech segment. The growth volume stood at 70% from 1.30 billion transactions in December 2019 to 2.2 billion in 2020, while the value of UPI transactions increased 105% from Rs 2.02 lakh crore in December 2019 to Rs 4.16 lakh crore in December 2020.

    Among the leading deals in the fintech sector last year, Flipkart founder Sachin Bansal-owned Navi Technologies led the chart with $398 Mn infusion by Bansal, Gaja Capital, and World Bank’s investment arm IFC, followed by Pine Labs at $300 Mn and PaySense’s acquisition by PayU at $185 Million.


    An Overview Of The Telemedicine Industry In India
    The Covid 19 outbreak has created many challenges on traditional healthcaresystems, as citizens have not been able to consult with the doctors physically. The telemedicine industry is expected to create more than $5.4 billion marketopportunity by 2025. Practo and DocPrime, mFine, CallHealth and L…


    Health and wellness

    The pandemic has pushed health and wellness services online and has resulted in a boom of online health and wellness services such as telehealth tech, remote diagnostics, and monitoring, remote mental healthcare, online fitness, healthy diets, motivational contents, and more. According to a report by Practo, online doctor consultations have increased 500% since March 2020, as five crore Indians are now accessing healthcare online amidst the Covid 19 pandemic.

    Companies like Practo and DocPrime, mFine, CallHealth and Lybrate are some of the leading telemedicine startups, while other small startups are looking to make it in the industry that is currently on the rise. The telemedicine market in India is expected to reach $5.4 Billion by 2025 with a CAGR of 31%. Innovative technologies are allowing health organizations to enhance the access and reduce the burden on hospitals through real time consultation with doctors through smartphones tablets, laptops or PCs.

    Telemedicine will reduce the time of consultations and improve the quality of healthcare services in rural areas, removing many of infrastructural challenges. Telemedicine can also help in reducing the burden on the tertiary hospitals by providing diagnosis and treatment to patients in their own geographical location and reducing chances of patient’s exposure due to hospital visits. While India is already one of the top 10 countries in the telemedicine marketing the world, adoption of a regulatory framework will help the segment grow rapidly.

    Well known telemedicine startups of India
    Well known telemedicine startups of India

    HR tech: Cloud and SaaS

    The rise of HR SaaS and remote working platforms in times of Covid 19 is not surprising. SaaS and remote working tools fall right in the path of success in such times. Businesses are also now understanding the value and operational simplicity that cloud adoption can bring to their IT environments, and various reports forecast a further increase in the use of SaaS solutions in 2021 and beyond. These applications would serve the founding stones for the majority of business operations in the future and a haven for existing ones.

    The covid 19 pandemic has been unable to dampen the interest of investors in Indian startups which offer software as a services (SaaS). According to a report by Brain and company the SaaS firms could capture 7%-9% of the market by 2022, and SaaS companies founded by Indians can reach upto $20 billion in revenue.

    The global SaaS market is estimated to grow to $230 billion in 2022 from $145 billion in 2019. Startups such as Zoho, Druva, Icertis, and Freshworks which breached the $100-million annual recurring revenue (ARR) mark, adding that there is a healthy pipeline of companies.


    Growth Of Indian Gaming Industry During Pandemic
    The Indian online gaming Industry is growing at an exponential rate upon yearand is expected to be worth $1.1 billion by 2021. The industry has experienced adrastic growth at the beginning of 2020 due to the pandemic. When otherbusinesses shut down, the gaming industry got lots of new users. The …


    OTT platforms

    OTT platform have proven to be time and cost effective, provide a more personalized version of the same experience and one can experience these at the comfort of their homes. OTT platforms in India are growing exponentially in the terms of subscribership because of various reasons. Digital India plays a major role in promoting the use of OTT platforms to stream diverse content from all over the world. One of the reason the availability of cheaper smartphones and internet has enabled a large chunk of the population to gain access to online platforms.

    Platforms like Voot, Sony Liv and Zee 5 are OTT platforms developed by existing broadcast channels to remain relevant and to cater to the shift in audience from TV viewership to OTT platforms. However, most of their content on these platforms are the same as the ones broadcasted on TV. With the entry of global players like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, users are offered a plethora of original content. Hotstar is currently the most popular OTT platform in India according to data from a mobile advertising and Internet service provider.

    Online Gaming

    In India, Covid 19 has taken this sector to the next level as there have been new gaming startups and platform have been reporting increased revenues mainly because of the pandemic. Furthermore, there is an emergence of new industry trends such as e- gaming, fantasy gaming and cloud-based gaming. Additionally, gaming is not only about playing anymore, but it is also about watching. the Indian online gaming Industry is growing at an exponential rate upon year and is expected to be worth $1.1 billion by 2021.

    Winzo games reported three times more user engagement and 30% higher traffic in online mobile gaming. Similarly Paytm First games also reported 200% increase, with 75,000 new users only during the pandemic. Three in every five serious gamers are now playing for around four hours more than before the lockdown. The online gaming industry is still quite an unexplored area in India but the companies that have taken the leap are flourishing and are now expected to grow by 41% in 2021.

    FAQ

    Conclusion