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Before the healthcare industry moves towards being fully-fledged health tech. A set of demarcations and regulations are required in the market. For a long decade, health tech technologies have tried to make a mark with the cutting edge in society. There were a lot of game-changing elements that mesmerized the health industry in the 20thcentury, like; antibiotics, insulin, and IVF. Yet again 21stcentury has surprised us with a new set of game-changing elements like robotic surgery, gene therapy, and COVID Vaccinations. Here, we must not forget the fact that innovation also comes with an element of risk.  New technologies and can pose a sign of threat unless guarded with the right ethics and checkpoints. With new technologies arriving daily in the era of health technology. It has become important for startups of health tech to act with checks and ethics. Ethical actions: health techs need to follow a set of ethics that can create a common base for the right set of actions for the innovations and their effects. It is then required to justify the common phenomenon that decreases the manipulation of any practices or their demand segments from people.  Demarcation: The health tech industry and the universe of its innovations are almost endless. In this regard, it becomes important to see to what extent innovations remain as a boom and not a curse. A set of defined rules to act and apply shall be set for keeping the health tech industries under the right supervision. Availability to the people: A lot of health tech innovations can be great and revolutionary but might not be available to all. This can happen in course of earning more and more profit. That cannot be a good idea to promote or support. Hence it becomes important to understand in what way the technologies can reach up to maximum people in the best way possible. Infrastructure support and acceptance: Any innovation is almost no innovation if not supported by the right and required infrastructural setup to boost it up. On the other hand, many times we tend not to accept a lot of new technologies or methods. That’s mostly because a lot of people or segments are biased to give up on older techniques. Thus, there is a strong need to understand what needs to be changed and when.

Misinformation wave on social media platforms like Facebook reduce the chances of people from getting vaccinated. Pune: When we say that technology and social media is the future of tomorrow, it is true. But, it comes with its own perils. There are places on the web and communities on social media that resort to cyber bullying, spreading misinformation and misleading the people.  The dark side of social media is not only risky for children, but it has also succeeded in penetrating adults and in extreme cases, it has resulted in people losing their lives at the behest of bad influencers or cyber criminals on the web and social media.  According to a recent survey carried out by The COVID States Project found that their respondents who relied exclusively on Facebook as a source of information and news were more likely to fall victim to false claims like COVID-19 vaccines will alter DNA or they have embedded microchips in it that will track people.  It is evident by now that we live in an era of mistrust. Mistrust is prevalent in all aspects of civilization like in healthcare, governance, medicines, etc. Our history, scepticism and online platforms have fuelled the wave further.  If we want the pandemic to end globally and for us to return to our pre-pandemic lives and levels, it is important for the population to get COVID-19 vaccines. Apprehensions arising from claims on social media, unverified sources and news channels need to be scraped out.  Personally, we have nothing against social media platforms like Facebook. But, despite countless efforts to stop and check the flow of misinformation, the phenomenon still continues. The reason behind the whole hullabaloo is that social media is accessible to millions of people globally. It just takes a minute for someone to share and send something out publically.  Therefore,  it is not possible to regulate or for someone to act as a continuous watchdog for activities, posts and news going on the web and social media every second of each day.  People with different backgrounds have varied ideological beliefs. But when it comes to healthcare, everyone is concerned to safeguard the health of their loved ones and themselves. There are instances where social media has helped a lot of people to reach out to get the right help. Nevertheless, the percentage of false claims scaring people away from getting treatment has been quite prominent on social media.  There are some ways in which we can still manage this crisis and curb the spread of harmful health claims from spreading on social media.  We can urge the right authorities, corporates involved, the government and fellow researchers, scientists and healthcare experts to monitor these claims and report them immediately. As soon as they are known to the concerned authorities, they must be immediately addressed via multiple mediums to the public. This can help in creating a difference and making this world a safer place to live in.

With the rise of genetic disorders like Alzheimer’s, cystic fibrosis, and cancer. The importance of technology-driven fast genetic testing is gaining more importance.  According to a new market study published by Global Industry Analytics Inc., theglobal direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing marketwill reach $ 2 billion by 2026. diagnostic technologies in the labs today are allowing a person to get a genetic test in the comfort of their homes. For example, if a person witnesses a heart issue with his mother and a mental issue with his father. He can ask the diagnostic labs to get a genetic test done. The samples can be collected from the home and taken to labs. Where the genetic testing can be done and as a result. It can be informed to the person what diseases he is more prone and he can take precautions or other required steps to avoid such health issues.  Significance of genetic testing With the right diagnosis at the right time. It has become very easy to know what disease a person is more prone to and take the required measures to keep your body and health upto mark. As we all know precaution is always better than cure. In many medical conclusions, it is said. That a family doctor is always better than a specialist doctor. As the family doctors know the genetics issues related to a family or person. By being updated with the previous generation health history of the family. Diagnosing any person’s health issues and predicting the reasons for any health issues becomes more logical and easier. Also, the cure and precaution are based on the historical data available in the form of genetic data. Becomes easier and to the point. Health and precaution becoming a priority Genetic testing is currently being used on a large scale in pharmacogenomics, which is also known as drug-gene testing. Also, a molecular diagnostic helps in detecting and understanding a particular disease much earlier. In traditional methods, this facility was not available. But now it is simplifying the solutions as well. With this in genetic testing, it has become easy to detect several diseases at a fatal level, which can let a person know about any abnormalities that can occur in a child after birth.  Molecular diagnostic allows understanding gene patterns and cell behavior detection. This new technology-based genetic diagnostic can especially be helpful in the case of cancer. As a most complicated and fearful disease. It is a gift that technology-driven genetic testing is giving to the world by early detection and precautions. With the pandemic hit the world. We all have realized that a better health condition and the right precaution are most convenient. As the economy rises and the demand for better health facilities is also rising. A good infrastructure for health does form an important base. On the other hand, a great technology that can eradicate the need for bigger infrastructure. Work more efficiently for better health solutions with technologies. That can allow a person to get diagnosed and cured so far. In the comfort zones of their home and eradicate the need of giving several rounds to hospitals in most cases.  Source: Healthworld.com

Pune: One of the most important facets of human life is striving to maintain good overall health which can only be achieved through magnificent healthcare. In a utopian society, healthcare benefits may be available to all kinds of people around the world, but in the times we live in, ‘healthcare-for-all’ is still a farfetched dream.  In the emerging world of technological advances at every nook and cranny, we can say that we are evolving from primitive healthcare and are moving towards the world of modern teleconsultation and telemedicine. Technology has enabled us to dream for a future where every person will be able to seize the benefits of healthcare.  Though telemedicine was initially considered to be “futuristic”, in today’s world, it has become a reality. With the help of technology and telecommunication services, people can now reap the benefits of healthcare which involves online consultation from various healthcare professionals who will guide you through the whole process of diagnosis, treatment, prevention and evaluation of your condition and overall health.  With the help of teleconsultation and telemedicine, long-distance healthcare has been made possible due to which people from remote areas, where healthcare is not easily available, can now receive treatment via online consultations. It has helped drastically to reduce the gap between healthcare providers all around the world. Communication and opinions can now be freely relayed through teleconsultation. With online consultations on the rise, the patient can save on the peripheral costs of transportation and can save time. In a world that has often been plagued by many epidemics and pandemics throughout history, the advancements in technology in the field of healthcare have made it possible to curb the severity of different kinds of epidemics all around the world. Various types of technologies like geographical monitoring have helped us in tracking and monitoring the extent of the spread of various kinds of viruses and diseases. Therefore, it has become an important tool in disaster management.  Teleconsultation and exchange of information on the front of healthcare and medicine ensure standardization of healthcare and equity amongst individuals living in a particular region with the rest of the world. Teleconsultation and telemedicine act as an information superhighway for people across the globe.  It is important to note that the Centre for International Rehabilitation says that with the advancements in telecommunication and telemedicine, proper rehabilitation and counseling can be provided to the people in remote areas who are in dire need of help but cannot reach out via traditional means.  It has helped in bridging the gap between the common man who struggles for healthcare and the providers who want to reach out for help. Therefore, with advancements in teleconsultation and telemedicine, we are looking forward to a world whose future is not bleak but rather spectacular in terms of overall healthcare services like consultation, medicine, exchange of knowledge, information and ideas amongst people residing in any part of the world.