How the Pandemic has Changed the Way Technology is Being Used in the Pharma Industry

he pandemic exposed the cracks in the healthcare infrastructure and placed unimaginable demands on the existing medical system.

The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the development of digital infrastructure across many industries. Healthcare is no exception to this. The pandemic exposed the cracks in the healthcare infrastructure and placed unimaginable demands on the existing medical system. However, the industry’s response has very well demonstrated its capability and resilience to introduce innovations to market quickly.

Digital technologies are making a major headway in the healthcare sector. The initial phase of the coronavirus outbreak saw an unprecedented shift to virtual care delivery, fuelled by regulatory flexibility and necessity. However, what began as a rescue from the uncertain situation soon opened the aperture for latest technologies to solve healthcare problems. The emergence of contactless/touchless solutions have the potential to create a well-integrated and comprehensive healthcare ecosystem in India. This will, in turn, help patients acquire access to cost-effective and high-quality medical care.

Why Adopt Contactless Solutions?

With Covid-19 changing all aspects of our daily lives, it is widely being believed that the pre-pandemic normal might never return. Considering this, governments have implemented various health and safety protocols such as wearing masks, using sanitisers, social distancing, remote work, online delivery services etc. to combat the long-term repercussions of the health crisis. As a result, contactless solutions are increasingly becoming popular.

Several hospitals and healthcare professionals are actively pursuing innovations for touchless services and operational processes for maximising productivity. These services have been enabled with the help of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), Big Data, Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR) & augmented reality (AR), smart sensors etc. Even telemedicine has emerged as a major enabler of contactless healthcare services. These have made a paradigm shift possible from personal, face-to-face interactions to intangible interactions using new-age technologies.

How Innovative Contactless Solutions are Revolutionising Healthcare

Many healthcare processes require numerous physical touchpoints. This can potentially heighten the risk of medical staff exposure to the deadly virus. Therefore, to mitigate the danger, medical professionals need mechanisms in place which will help safeguard their own health at work.

Here are the innovative contactless solutions transforming healthcare:

1. Contactless Patient Education

An essential part of patient care is educating patients about their own health condition by sharing the right medical information with them. For this, there are various medical apps that educate patients about diseases, drugs, treatments & services. Digital devices like Kanopi, which is a WI-FI enabled easy-to-use patient education device, are making it convenient for doctors to educate patients with high-quality videos, audio and images.

2. Contactless Patient Screening

Early detection of diseases and health ailments is crucial for the efficiency of treatment and prevents complications. Devices like Kribado, a non-invasive hand-held screening device, helps healthcare practitioners treat patients by correctly analysing their condition and providing a risk score at pre-admission level.

3. Contactless Pharma-Doctor Interaction

Touchless solutions are also making it easier for doctors to connect with medical representatives. Amidst the busy schedules, digital platforms like Incontro are enabling a better, secure and hassle-free interaction between doctors and pharma professionals. With this, they are able to virtually discuss about the brand promotion efficiently.

4. Upskilling of Doctors

Given the current times, continuous professional development of doctors has become crucial. Educational courses related to medico-legal and digital marketing for doctors through programmes such as MedExel and Leap to the Future are emerging as popular options. These use cutting-edge techniques to educate doctors about the latest medical procedures and patient care.

Summing Up

The pandemic has led to the emergence of historical trends in several sectors. As the central player in managing this crisis, healthcare comes foremost on the list. Stakeholders in the industry, thus, need to balance long-term and short-term goals as this will not just help overcome the current crisis but also build an efficient, equitable and robust healthcare system, pillared on technological advancements.