Telemedicine during COVID-19: India embracing the change

Telemedicine has been around for decades but it has taken foreground in health services recently. When COVID-19 cases started to be reported in the country it brought with itself panic and chaos. At all India level, the adult literacy rate is 77.7%, this could also be linked to unawareness related to the disease in rural areas. The sudden countrywide lockdown imposed was of no help and further worsened the situation for economically weaker section of the society. During the struggle of our nation to overcome the COVID-19 Telemedicine has indeed played a vital role. People in fear of contacting the disease and due to nationwide lockdown were unable to reach their health care provider. People with pre-existing conditions that needs regular monitoring, pregnancy related queries, queries on new symptoms, psychological counselling and many more could not wait for the COVID-19 to be over before they get any help on the issues. Telemedicine shall continue developing and be used in a multitude of settings by more health-care doctors and patients, and these standards of practice will be a crucial driver within this evolution.

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Using financing to motivate a for-profit health care provider to deliver family planning services: Is it a cost-effective intervention? A study of AAR health services in Kenya

The International Journal of Health Planning and Management ◽

10.1002/hpm.710 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 205-220 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Grace Chee

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Family Planning ◽

Health Services ◽

Health Care Provider ◽

Care Provider ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Effective Intervention ◽

Family Planning Services ◽

For Profit

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Characteristics and Trends in Hypnotics Consumption in the Largest Health Care System in Israel

Sleep Disorders ◽

10.1155/2016/8032528 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

O. Marom ◽

G. Rennert ◽

N. Stein ◽

K. Landsman ◽

G. Pillar

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Services ◽

Retrospective Analysis ◽

Health Care System ◽

Health Care Provider ◽

Dose Escalation ◽

Care Provider ◽

Pharmacy Records ◽

Israeli Population ◽

Major Increase

Objectives. To quantify and characterize hypnotics consumption habits among adult patients insured by Clalit Health Services (CHS), the largest health care provider in Israel, in 2000 and 2010.Methods. A retrospective analysis of CHS computerized pharmacy records. Data were collected for all patients over the age of 18 years who were prescribed hypnotics in 2000 and in 2010.Results. Sleep medications were consumed by 8.7% of the adult CHS population in 2000 and by 9.6% in 2010. About one-quarter of consumers were treated for more than 6 months in both years. Multiple sleeping drugs were consumed more often in 2010 (45.2%) than a decade before (22%). While in 2000 benzodiazepines accounted for 84.5% of hypnotics, in 2010 this was reduced to 73.7% (p<0.05). Of all patients treated for longer than 6 months only 11% in 2000 and 9% in 2010 required a dose escalation suggesting the absence of tolerance.Conclusions. Nine percent of the Israeli population consumes hypnotics. There is a major increase in prescription of combination of medications between 2000 and 2010, with an increase in Z class medications use and reduction in benzodiazepines. Most patients chronically treated did not escalate dosage, suggesting the absence of tolerance.

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