Dr. Saarthak Bakshi Decodes the Role of IoT in Healthcare Industry

Post Facebook’s security breach incident, people tend to have become a little hesitant towards sharing their personal information online. 

We are turning digital in every sphere of life including social media and downloading various apps for fun or business. According to digital network solution firm Verizon, lack of strong data protection and privacy legislation makes India highly vulnerable to data breaches related to personal information.

To understand the role of IoT in Healthcare industry, FranchiseIndia.com reached out to Dr. Saarthak Bakshi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of International Fertility Centre, also recognized as Forbes 30 under 30 ASIA, 2017 for HealthCare and Science.

Benefits of IoT in Indian Healthcare Industry

Cost Reduction- The IoT shifts and focuses on patient’s home-centered check-ups and eliminates the need for hospitalization by the effective use of technology. The simultaneous monitoring and reporting through connected devices instantly transfer the health condition of the patient to the concerned doctor. The provision of real-time health report of the patients will hopefully be time-saving as a speedy treatment would be given to the patient.

Declining Errors, Efforts, and Paper- The occurrence of mistakes created by human intervention shall be minimalized through digitalization. The traditional way of billing and patients reports shall also take a further leap, to go paperless.

Better facilities to the Ailing- Also, it will not be essential for the patient to visit the doctor every time as most of their glitches will be resolved through IoT. It will also enhance the management of medicines and drugs.

Assistance to remotest of areas- With the emergence of IoT, a doctor can easily keep a track of the health of a patient, miles away. With easy and affordable access to the internet at the village and at the remotest of areas, IoT will literally eradicate the problem of distance thereby, reducing the efforts involved.

Ensure maintenance of pieces of equipment- The development of IoT, seeks to identify the problems in medical equipment and signals their breakdown. It is indeed a very important factor as such a failure could be a threat to numerous lives.

Reaching Out to Underprivileged Areas

• The approach of IoT is to make the Tier II, III, IV, and even the villages smarter and give birth to urbanization in the healthcare sector.
• The smart health services will definitely elevate the quality of life and healthcare services in the developing and under-developing regions with advanced technology and increased connectivity.
• The embedded technology, evolved devices, and sensors connected with the patient and doctors shall easily detect the critical health of the person and transfer of data and reports will also be sent to the doctor directly, upgrading the healthcare sector.
• This step shall also promote the smart ways towards waste management and be controlling like fuel saving, smart routes, smart bins etc.

Protection from Security Breach

Bakshi says, “It is very vital for all the personal information relating to patients and doctors to be confidential thus, encrypting data, securing mobile devices, undertaking regular risk valuations, evaluating connected devices risks beforehand, implementing data usage control panels and restricting access to data. These methods shall surely prevent the security breach of personal information.”

He adds, “Also, the DISHA (Digital Information Security in Healthcare Act) Act, a government initiative shall empower sharing of information and health records amongst the hospitals, clinics and the patients in a protected way. This is to encourage and accept an electronic health and implement privacy and security which shall safeguard data and regulate the storage and exchange of e-health records.”