Impact of Digital Revolution on Healthcare of Rural India

Abstract

Healthcare in India is at turning point where the country witnessed an unexpected change digital innovations such as telemedicine platforms, wearable technologies and electronic health records. COVOD-19 is the basis for watershed movement for digital health adoption for which government of India launched a program of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) in 2021 which is helping healthcare more accessible, efficient and equitable for all. These are realized only when these innovations are integrated into health system and adopted by doctors and trusted by patients. Technology always becomes means to strengthen healthcare but not the end.
Today, Ayushman Bhart Digital Mission (ABDM) is providing a unified digital heath infrastructure which includes a Healthcare Professionals Registry, a Health Facility Registry, a united Health Interface (UHI) and the Ayushman Bharat Account for individuals. As on August 2025, 3,3 lakhs health facilities and 4.7 lakhs professionals have been registered under this program. Telemedicine also increased suddenly dure to COVID-19. The government’s e-Sanjeevani platform providing services to 150 million consultations till today. These flat forms extending access to doctors to provide services for rural communities. Along with, private platforms such as Proctor and Lybrate extended their services 200 percent during pandemic situation of COVID-19.
Digital health has a critical role to bring the situation back regarding climate change, floods, heatwaves and vector borne diseases. When the physical infrastructure is disrupted, telemedicine and mobile health platforms will ensure continuity of care. However, digital disease surveillance systems have to provide warning of outbreaks. Digital health not only protect vulnerable population but also reveals how health innovations are to be adopted according to environment. To ensure digital healthcare, India must strengthen patients – centric electronic Medical Records which are portable and consent- driven. In addition to this, inclusive capital of building, training ASHs, ANMs and nutrition workers must be sufficient to look after the situations. In this way, India digital transformation can serve not just rural people of India but also contribution to global health equity.