Telemedicine and Cancer Care in India: Promises, Opportunities and Caveats
Suryanarayana V. S. Deo, Raja Pramanik, Meesha Chaturvedi, Anita Nath, Jaya Ghosh, Saroj Kumar Das Majumdar, Naveen Salins, Geeta Kadayaprath, Pankaj Garg, Arvind Chaturvedi, Sandeep Mathur, Prashant Mathur
Abstract
Telemedicine has revolutionized areas of medical practice and care. It has a potential in field of continuum of cancer care in India. SARS-CoV-2 has highlighted the potential use of this tool effectively. Scope of newer applications of telemedicine in field of cancer is reviewed in current paper enlisting benefits to patient, healthcare providers and centers in a developing country like India. Each of them is supported by appropriate evidence and examples. An analysis of strengths and opportunities when compared with weakness and threats brings out how telemedicine can redistribute oncology work force in a rational way and minimize disruption caused by the pandemic. Telemedicine can be utilized in cancer management starting from prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation to palliative care.