Public healthcare in India is free & AVAILABLE for every resident which encompasses 18% of total outpatient care and 44% of total inpatient care. Unfortunately, this care is not as ACCESSIBLE as its reputation precedes on paper. However, the emergence of healthcare camps has provided a dynamic opportunity to fulfil the underserved healthcare needs and today, this widely adopted strategy has become an integral part of the Indian healthcare system. Irrespective of its promises, one must ask,
Is it an effective strategy or just a ‘picture perfect’ scam?
Every year, swasthya shivirs/health camps are organised by private and government healthcare organisations. These are even highly welcomed by the lower economic sections of the societies, in a hope of subsidised or free medical care. Sadly, it is estimated that the conventional health camp modules hit ground zero soon after the first phase of initiation; because of the following limitations:
- Lack of continued care for patients.
- Increased care costs – after attending the camp patients are expected to take follow-ups or further treatment at a hospital which maybe far off.
- Travel fatigue
With the rapid adoption of Health camps, medical practitioners have successfully addressed the medical needs in remote communities. Still, the drawbacks of this conventional care delivery module have outgrown its benefits. Furthermore, with this ‘one-time care affair’, the patients are forced to choose between out-of-pocket expenses or discontinuing their treatment.
According to an NCBI report, India contributes to 2/3rd of the total deaths in the South-East Asia Region due to non-communicable diseases. Although the government pays handsomely to establish optimum care modules, major benefactors include the middle and upper-class rather than the lower economic population.
In such a scenario, healthcare camps can efficiently ensure primary care to the rural population; but, expecting the optimum results from a ‘one-time treatment’ module is too good to be true!
Is it navigating patient engagement and trust?
A health camp strives to bring awareness and screen underprivileged population to enhance patient access to healthcare services. Sometimes, organisers even get estimated results after distributing basic medication but, thinking from a patient’s perspective – this doesn’t seem enough!
For example – For a patient diagnosed with chronic conditions, one-time screening without follow-ups imbalances the act of care delivery. Moreover, it leaves a negative outlook toward the practitioner in the minds of the patients after being diagnosed with the condition. This will result in a decline in overall health camp participations and thereby, decrease patient engagement and trust.
Hence, medical camps must facilitate end-to-end care on an easily accessible platform to enhance patient care and maintain patient stickiness in the long run. And, this comprehensive care demand can only be fulfilled with an assisted virtual care delivery system.
A system that is driven by care professionals and backed with technology!
The Solution – Health camps with assisted virtual care support!
Imagine being able to deliver care in remote locations around the year without a need to be physically present at the location.
Yes, it’s possible!
2019-2021 has given quite a boost to the Virtual Based Care (VBC) modules. Utilizing a similar approach to treat the patient in health camps will enable doctors to deliver comprehensive care and may ensure long-term patient engagement. However, while providing care for a technologically-illiterate population, a kiosk-based assisted telemedicine module is an ideal solution.
Advantages of a kiosk-based assisted telemedicine module:
- Consult patients at any time and from anywhere
- Easily render homecare services along with a regular vital check-up for comprehensive patient monitoring.
- Organise a medical camp and continue the treatment, as per the patient’s medical needs.
- Maximum patient engagement and minimum travelling costs.
- Provide rapid diagnostic kits via the assisted telemedicine route.
HArborSays
Medical health checkup camp is an effective way of delivering primary health care; typically in the unreached area to achieve optimum health coverage. However, the conventional health camps come with their own demerits and it’s about time to resolve those issues. Assisted virtual healthcare platform is one of the best possible ways to ensure healthcare access for all.
We believe – “If it cannot sustain the care requirements, it shall be replaced or at least advanced.” And, it’s time to deliver the best possible outcomes from health camps.
HarborSays 