How healthcare start-ups may transform wellness industry through mHealth

It is very encouraging to see mhealth space grow in India. Healthcare experts and mass Indian population is warming it up. It is in its early stages in India, but the future of Indian healthcare is- mhealth.

The growth of the segment is good for professionals and there is less risk in the space now, as, investors are backing most of the companies, which has brought stability in the market. It is for this reason that people from even higher roles are switching their jobs to start-ups, as the scenario is extremely positive now.

mHealth has done the unthinkable making of healthcare accessible to the billion plus population of India. A basic human necessity is making healthcare available to all by enabling doctors and users to communicate seamlessly through mobile phones. Using technology, we are effectively bridging the yawning gap between doctors and patients and changing the way healthcare is being delivered in the country.

Mobile apps made it easier
In India, shortage of doctors is a major issue, apparent from the doctor-patient ratio, which is abysmally low at 1:1700. By making doctors and users communicate, mHealth has multiplied the presence of healthcare experts to different geographical locations.

People are not restricted to one geographical zone, when it comes to seeking an opinion from a healthcare expert now. A person sitting in tier II and III cities can very well communicate with the doctors sitting in metro cities, using the mobiles apps like Lybrate, which was hitherto not possible.

In addition to addressing the problem of shortage of doctors, these apps very effectively deals with the rampant issue of self medication, in which people in the country indulge heavily due to the lack of time, inertia to visit a doctor, busy schedules, waiting time at doctor’s clinics and carelessness.

Significantly, as per our recent survey, 52 per cent of Indians involve in self medication and expose themselves to severe health risks. By providing people the option to seek opinion in a convenient manner, the app very well cuts the prevalence of self medication.

Other than these, the app is also addressing a very ‘serious social issue’ concerning health of people who do not talk in public over taboo subjects in India. People hesitate to discuss their sexual wellbeing, women’s health, psychological problems, especially depression, out of embarrassment.

The problems are genuine, but real, and people skip talking about it because of social stigma intact to it. As a result of which, many continue remaining silent and beares the brunt of it. The feature of anonymity in the mobile apps encourages people to come out of their shell and openly seek professional help from doctors, pertaining to any health problem and take informative decisions.

We have provided a window to those who felt stifled due to bottling-up of their health concerns, giving them fresh a lease of life.

This is how Lybrate is doing its bit to improve India’s healthcare scenario. We are sure, small effort will bring big changes. 

As suggested by Saurabh Arora, Founder & CEO, Lybrate to Niharika Verma.