The whole world is fighting with the COVID-19 crisis. Every country is working its best for the vaccine to be discovered. Every person is taking care of himself. Let's see how our earth will be after these crises.
COVID-19 infection is already changing the way we think and live. Health and healthcare will also see fundamental changes, and it will no longer be business as usual. Several paradigm shifts will take place in health and healthcare. We need to understand how these changes will impact our lives.
PUBLIC HEALTH
Public Health will be accorded its due place. When we look at the successes in combating the pandemic, those countries with robust public health systems have done well.
The reason for South Korea doing so well has been attributed to its large number of tests but what is forgotten is that their robust public health system comprising of a healthy surveillance system, universal health coverage, and financial protection of the citizens played a significant role.
For example, even in India, Kerala has been the first state to flatten the curve virtually with its healthy public health system. Consequentially, we should expect an emphasis on public health approaches that include robust disease surveillance systems, disease prediction modelers, expansion of social insurance, and ultimately a cadre of public health professionals on civil servants' lines, with prevention and wellness being given a high priority.
However, the government needs to offer salaries commensurate with their qualifications and experience to shift a successful and sustainable venture.
HEALTHCARE
In the healthcare sector, there will make massive shifts. There is currently underutilization of technology-enabled innovative solutions in India, mainly due to the inertia in changing the status quo and challenging existing practices.
Telemedicine is one such underutilized medicine field, and its advantages and benefits are brought to much-deserved focus in the current lockdown scenario. It is likely teleconsultations and telehealth will expand and reduce the load on the hospitals.
The enthusiasm for telehealth is highest, with the Indian government releasing the long-awaited Telemedicine Practice Guidelines on 25 March 2020. This has been endorsed by several state governments who proactively encouraged the medical fraternity to enable telemedicine consultations. Virtual clinics with a variety of health care workers will become the norm.
Examples of the utility of telehealth include screening for ophthalmological conditions, cancer follow-ups during remissions, chronic gastrointestinal problems, some acute and almost all chronic dermatological issues, reproductive health/contraception, sexual health problems, chronic urological problems, chronic respiratory ailments like asthma, COPD, certain heart conditions, rheumatological problems, chronic neurological conditions, treatment for chronic infections and palliative care services.
Telepsychology and psychiatry have been tried and tested and are taking off at a faster pace. Telepathology and teleradiology have already proven to be beneficial in bridging the distance barrier and overcoming capacity constraints.
MEDICAL EDUCATION IN FUTURE
Continuing medical education will also see changes. While it may not entirely replace medical conferences, webinars and virtual educational platforms will become widespread and frequent.
However, the two most giant elephants in the room will be equitable distribution and data privacy. Given the low awareness and information asymmetry between the poor and rich, the less and better-educated inequities will be evident. While universal health coverage may provide a base for equitable health care, innovative solutions such as self-help groups, community volunteers, and healthy community initiatives may be needed.
Further insurance coverage is virtually non-existent for prevention, and regulations will have to be tweaked to enable insurance coverage for preventive and promotive practices and telehealth use.
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