Digital Health Technology Evolution & Patient Experience Access to healthcare has evolved greatly since the advent of digital technologies. The development of online medicine has dramatically increased the speed and availability of necessary medicines to patients, thus increasing access to treatment and reducing the time wasted during treatments.
Previous Challenges in Healthcare Accessibility
Previously, patients relied completely on local pharmacies for accessing medicines, which led to problems such as; stock shortages, pharmacy hours of operation and lengthy wait periods. Additionally, in many cases, there were very few pharmacies in small towns and rural communities, further exacerbating the lack of access to medical supplies.
Digital health platforms for the ordering of medications now provide solutions to these problems. Patients can order online medicine through an online portal that includes a feature where they may upload their prescription to a certified pharmacist who reviews it; and then the patient receives their medication in a timely manner to be taken at home. The new digital process is intended to ensure the patient does not miss or delay treatment due to either unavailability or delayed delivery of prescribed medicines.
Faster Access to Medicines through Technologies
The digital health platforms have enhanced the supply chain's operational efficiency by connecting directly with the manufacturers, distributors and authorized pharmacy networks. The direct connection enables a real-time view of the availability of medicines, thereby ensuring medicines that are in high demand remain in stock and enable rapid resolution of supply chain gaps.
Additionally, these systems utilize technologies to analyze demand for medicines across different geographic areas enabling more accurate inventory management and timely dispatch of medicines. Thus, this technology reduces the number of trips patients have to make to acquire their prescribed medicines.
Digital Prescription and Telemedicine Services
Another way that digital health platforms have reduced the delays in treatment is through the integration of telemedicine services with digital prescription services. Users are able to engage in consultations with physicians electronically, obtain digital prescriptions that have been authenticated by the physicians and purchase medicines via electronic means through the same portal.
These services eliminate the need for patients to physically go to clinics and pharmacies to obtain prescriptions and medicines, thus saving patients time and energy. Moreover, for patients with mobility issues, chronic conditions, or living in remote areas, the digital nature of the service provides a mechanism for receiving medical care without having to incur travel-related expenses to reach the nearest clinic or pharmacy.
Moreover, the digital nature of prescriptions reduces the likelihood that prescriptions will be lost, which could result in delayed treatment as a result of continuity of treatment being interrupted.
Delivery of Medicines to Patient Locations
The timely delivery of medicines to patient locations has been another factor contributing to the reduction of delays in treatment. E-pharmacies have developed structured delivery models that can process and deliver medicines in hours in urban areas and within a couple of days in remote locations.
E-pharmacies work with licensed courier companies to ensure reliable delivery of medicines and have developed systems that incorporate temperature-controlled packaging to protect medicines that require special handling requirements. Live tracking systems utilising GPS technology are also utilised to provide patients with real-time information regarding the status of their delivery.
Increased Accessibility to Wider Network of Suppliers
With the advent of digital health platforms, patients are no longer dependent on local market availability for medicines. Instead, they can gain access to a much larger supplier base and therefore obtain harder-to-find medicines timely.
Patients with chronic or rare conditions often require specialised formulations and therefore benefit most from the ability to order medicines from a larger network of suppliers. When patients rely on local inventory, obtaining medicines that require special formulation can lead to delays in treatment. Digital health platforms facilitate the timely delivery of these types of medicines by locating them in regional or national distribution centres.
Simplified Communication Process Between Patients, Doctors and Pharmacists
Online systems have facilitated the communication between patients, doctors and pharmacists through the implementation of real-time prescription sharing processes. In other words, once a doctor has ordered a new prescription, the prescription can be shared electronically with the pharmacy team for review.
If there is any need for additional information, the pharmacist can connect electronically with the physician to clarify any details prior to processing the order. The integration of online systems into the prescription process has reduced delays associated with administrative tasks related to prescription review and approval, especially for patients requiring long-term therapy.
Automated Refill and Reminder Processes
There is a high frequency of delayed treatment as a consequence of unintentional lapses in medication regimen compliance. In order to keep their customers informed when they need to reorder medications that will run out soon, most online pharmacies provide automated refill notifications and reminders.
Using these systems, patients can establish recurring delivery schedules to ensure that essential medicines are delivered on time. The automation of the refill and reminder processes has saved patients time while also minimising the potential for treatment discontinuation as a result of forgotten appointments or logistical issues.
Increased Accessibility to Rural and Underserved Regions
For individuals living in rural and semi-rural communities where access to health care is limited, the digital pharmacy services provide an alternative source of medical information. These services have also helped bridge the access gap by bringing prescribed medications to communities that do not have any brick-and-mortar pharmacies.
Mobile apps and regional language interfaces have enabled online pharmacy services to simplify the process of ordering and receiving medicines for individuals with limited digital literacy. This has resulted in fewer delays in accessing medical care as a result of the time and expense of travelling to the nearest pharmacy.
Predictive Analytics and Delivery Times
Many of the online healthcare platforms currently employ predictive analytics to predict demand for medicines, detect seasonal fluctuations and avoid supply chain shortages.
Through analysing patient data and historical order trends, these systems can forecast which medicines will be in highest demand in specific geographic regions. As a result, the systems can position inventory to expedite the delivery of the required medicines. Additionally, predictive analytics supports efficient routing for deliveries and eliminates delays resulting from logistical challenges.
The convergence of digital health platforms, telemedicine, digital prescriptions and advanced logistics has established a more responsive model of healthcare delivery. Improved accessibility, coordination and timeliness of medicine delivery have all contributed to the important role that online pharmacy services play in eliminating treatment delays and enhancing patient convenience in India’s rapidly expanding digital health ecosystem.
